Tweets,


Taking advantage of a window of good weather, Dave Swayne and I birded
several locations in the central Cascades Sep 12-15. Sites included several
of the roads and prairies near Cleman Mountain, the Bethel Ridge burn plus
Burnt Mountain and Cash Prairie area (all in Yakima County), and Noble Knob
(Pierce County). Some notable birds are mentioned here.


Cleman Mountain
Lewis's Woodpecker (2), Williamson's and Red-naped Sapsuckers, several
flocks of Evening Grosbeaks totaling many dozen birds, Mountain Bluebirds
(at least a dozen), a very out of place Band-tailed Pigeon, and a pair of
Great Horned Owls that serenaded us in the evening and the wee hours.


Cash Prairie
Sooty Grouse (2), Turkey Vulture (~6), Common Nighthawk (1), Williamson's
Sapsucker, Townsend's Solitaire (at least a dozen), Clark's Nutcracker (at
least 2 dozen), Yellow, Yellow-rumped (dozens), Townsend's and Wilson's
Warblers, Chipping, Fox, Song, Lincoln's, White-crowned and Golden-crowned
Sparrows, plus a pair of Great Horned Owls, one (a juvenile?) that gave a
'cack' call repeatedly for at least an hour as it flew all around the
meadow.


Burnt Mountain
A few raptors were on the move, including several Turkey Vultures, an
Osprey, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, and Peregrine
Falcon. A Williamson's Sapsucker gave us up-close views. Again, many
Clark's Nutcrackers and Townsend's Solitaires, probably 2 dozen each.
Olive-sided Flycatcher and a presumptive Hammond's.


Bethel Ridge
In the burn area below Bethel Ridge were both Black-backed (2) and American
Three-toed Woodpeckers giving fantastic views, within about 15 feet. While
watching the BBWO at eye level, the ATTW flew in to the same tree, both in
the same binocular view. The BB took offense and chased off the TT. They
both then moved on to another tree where the TT kept a 30-foot distance and
they remained peaceful.


While driving north on Hwy 410, just south of Cliffdell, Dave noticed a
large flock of swallows. We stopped to admire and then were
overwhelmed--there were easily 5000 birds, probably double that, mostly
Violet-green with maybe 100 Barns and a handful of Vaux's Swifts. The flock
was dispersed from the highway several hundred feet over to the river,
along a 1/4 mile stretch of the road and could be seen from ground level to
several hundred feet, some even higher than a soaring Turkey Vulture. A
large bat flew through the group just above us and was quickly chased off
into the trees.


Noble Knob
A Pygmy Owl was heard only. At the knob, about 16 Common Ravens were
soaring; mixed in were 2 Red-tailed Hawks. One of the Red-tails and one of
the Ravens performed a perfectly synchronized ballet for a couple of
minutes, rising and falling together in a fascinating scene of mutual
tolerance. Among the sparrows were Fox (2) and Lincoln's. A single American
Pipit flew over. A good long view of a Sharp-shinned Hawk that was being
half-heartedly harassed by Gray Jays. The best birds of the trip were 2
Northern Goshawks, one of which (an immature) soared around the knob for
several minutes, headed north almost out of sight, then returned for
another visit to the knob, eventually soaring out of sight.


Good birding!
Scott Ramos
Seattle