Hi Tweeters,
Today Bill and I checked out some of the migrant traps in eastern Washington. By 8:30 am we were in Vantage. We didn't see anything really rare, but were pleased to see an American Redstart along with lots of Yellow-rimped Warblers, one Ruby-crowned Kinlet and 2 Orange-crowned Warblers. About 2 miles east of the Columbia River on Hwy 26, we noticed many birds on the power lines. They seemed small and I thought maybe they were swallows, but they were all American Pipits. There must have been over 500 of them! As we drove by Royal City, we saw 6 Sandhill Cranes flying sort of eastward. About 2 pm we finally reached Bassett Park in Washtucna. The weather was getting grayer and grayer and it was rather windy. Bill decided to heat water for another cup of coffee, while I looked around for birds in the big trees. Again, there were many Yellow-rumped Warblers, but also two Wilson's Warblers, many Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a few Golden-crowned Kinglets, a Red-breasted Nuthatch, some Goldfinches, a Dark-eyed Junco, a Swainson's Thursh, and an Empidonax flycatcher. As we climbed into the car, it started to rain, so we called it a day.
Charlotte Byers, Seattle