Subject: [Tweeters] WOS Conference Going Home West 1 trip 14 June 2010
Date: Jun 16 14:13:21 2010
From: B&PBell - bellasoc at isomedia.com


Hi Tweets

We wrapped up one of the best WOS conferences with the Going Home West #1 trip (eventually over Stevens Pass). Monday started out cooler than previous days with some early morning clouds. As we left Wenatchee we saw VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, ROCK PIGEON, AMERICAN CROW, AMERICAN ROBIN, and HOUSE SPARROW. As we drove west on US 2 toward Leavenworth we picked up BARN SWALLOW and OSPREY. Our first stop was at the Cashmere Sewage Ponds. Nice birdy spot with OSPREY on a nest, MALLARD, WOOD DUCK, NORTHERN SHOVELER with young, CANADA GOOSE, KILLDEER, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, AMERICAN COOT, and BARN, CLIFF, TREE, VIOLET-GREEN, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED, and BANK SWALLOWs, and RED-WINGED and BREWER'S BLACKIRDs. Across the road we saw WESTERN KINGBIRD at the nest, BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, VAUX'S SWIFT, EUROPEAN STARLING. On the way out we picked up EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE, MOURNING DOVE, GRAY CATBIRD, EASTERN KINGBIRD, YELLOW WARBLER, SONG SPARROW, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.

We made a quick restroom stop at the Safeway and heard a singing WILSON'S WARBLER. Our next stop was the Leavenworth Parks along the Wenatchee River. We had just walked into the park when we heard singing VEERY. A short play on the I-Pod and the bird popped up. We also had singing SWAINSON'S THRUSH and GRAY CATBIRD and WINTER WREN. A WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH flew in, and we saw AMERICAN ROBIN, SONG SPARROW, heard MACGILLIVRAY'S and NASHVILLE WARBLERs, and had singing CASSIN'S and RED-EYED VIREOs (we saw the Red-eyed). A RED-NAPEDSAPSUCKER flew in. In an offshoot of the river there were MALLARDs, WOOD DUCKs, and some odd domestic ducks. A PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER was overhead.

We drove the East Leavenworth Rd. and picked up WESTERN BLUEBIRD. We walked a loop at the Fish Hatchery and added WESTERN KINGBIRD, LAZULI BUNTING, YELLOW WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, SONG SPARROW, CASSIN'S FINCH, WARBLING VIREO, DOWNY WOODPECKER, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, CEDAR WAXWING, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, and DARK-EYED JUNCO. An AMERICAN DIPPER was perched on the fence under the bridge over the bypass canal. Overhead we had TURKEY VULTURE (a group of at least 19), and RED-TAILED HAWK. We had a very high accipiter that was a COOPER'S HAWK.

We made three stops along US 2 along the Wenatchee River, picking up more of the same species we had already seen. In the interests of time we then headed for higher country. We turned off on FR6700 (Smithbrook Rd.) heading for higher elevations. We were stopped at about 1 mile in by snow that was at least 1-2 feet deep over the road. We turned around and did some birding on the way down. We saw VARIED THRUSH, AMERICAN ROBIN, BLACK SWIFT, HAIRY WOODPECKER, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER sang up the hillside, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, STELLER'S JAY, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, HERMIT THRUSH.

Other birds we saw or heard included: COMMON MERGANSER, CALIFORNIA QUAIL, PILEATED WOODPECKER, COMMON RAVEN, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, WESTERN TANAGER, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (seemingly everywhere - consistent with the weekend), PURPLE FINCH, HOUSE FINCH, PINE SISKIN, EVENING GROSBEAK.

It was a good, leisurely trip home and we saw and heard 84 species. We did have one miss - as we came out from under the trees at the Fish Hatchery another couple asked if we had seen the Golden Eagles over the ridge. Shoot, we just missed them.

As others have said it was a great conference and too many accolades can't be given to Dan Stephens, Scott Downes and Cindy McCormick for the preparations. Many thanks also to the folks who helped take care of the registration table.

Brian H. Bell
Woodinville WA
mail to bell asoc at iso media dot com