Subject: [Tweeters] Golf Course Road,
Date: May 19 22:37:17 2009
From: Megan Lyden - meganlyden at msn.com




Hi Tweets,



Tina Klein-Lebbink and I birded Golf Course Road, Taneum Creek and Ridge and
Umptanum Road on Monday, May 18. On our way over, we stopped at Chris
Caviezel's house in Hyak to see the amazing show of Rufous Hummingbirds at
his feeders. We had the opportunity to meet Chris and we'd like to thank
him for inviting birders to stop by to see the activity in his yard.



The boat launch area off Golf Course Road was extremely bird-y. Great looks
at McGillivray's, Yellow, Nashville, Yellow-rumped, and Wilson's Warblers,
Warbling Vireo, Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Tanager, Swainson's Thrush,
Gray Catbird, Evening Grosbeaks, and what we believe was Hammond's
Flycatcher (based on song).



Next we headed up Taneum Creek. Tina spotted a Lazuli Bunting near the rock
quarry and Western Wood Pee-wees were numerous; also saw Vaux's Swifts. The
first campground is closed due to flood damage. At the following campground
(Icewater Creek) Black-throated Gray Warblers were singing all around us
(never got looks, though!). At Gooseberry Flats, Chipping Sparrows were
everywhere; also had excellent looks at Cassin's Vireo, Mountain Chickadee,
Townsend's Warbler. We were curious whether we could get over the ridge but
the road gave way to snow at 3983 feet.



Headed over to Umptanum Road. At the first riparian zone, we encountered
House Wrens; on the trail to the falls we added Red-Naped Sapsucker and
Bullock's Orioles, and heard a Yellow-breasted Chat. As we hit the
Ponderosa Pine area, we encountered a pair of White-headed Woodpeckers, and
a flock of Clark's Nutcrackers. Next, we stopped at Liberty where we heard
singing Hermit Thrushes.



It was a great day.



Megan Lyden

Bellevue, Washington