Hello everyone,
Jon Isacoff, Gina Sheridan, and I joined Mike and MerryLynn Denny for a tour of Walla Walla county yesterday. A big thank you to the Dennys for leading us around and helping us add several bird to our county lists!
At the Walla Walla River Delta at about 8:00am, we found the HUDSONIAN GODWIT that the Dennys found the day before. Also, present were lots of gulls including at least one HERRING GULL. Other shorebirds seen here included GREATER YELLOWLEGS and WESTERN SANDPIPER. The Dennys let us know that the water had come up quite a bit compared to the day before.
We then visited other spots near the delta looking for more shorebirds. At the Millet Field, we had several new shorebird species including loads of LESSER YELLOWLEGS and at least one SOLITARY SANDPIPER.
At Two Rivers HMU, we scoped the water and found one of the previously found WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS. Also, here we picked up our only LEAST SANDPIPER of the day.
A quick stop along Hwy 12 just southwest of Wallula provided with great looks at a PRAIRIE FALCON and a couple ROCK WREN. A WESTERN TANAGER was in the small trees here at this pull out too.
At Hatch Grade, we tried for Ferruginous Hawk without success, but were rewarded with an unusual day sighting of a GREAT HORNED OWL.
Along Highway 12 heading east towards Lowden, we spotted several SWAINSON'S HAWKS on utility poles and in flight.
A stop at Rook's Park was very productive with DOWNY WOODPECKER, VAUX'S SWIFT, EASTERN KINGBIRD, GRAY CATBIRD, and YELLOW WARBLER all seen/heard.
We then headed up Biscuit Ridge Road into the foothills of the Blue Mountains. We made several stops and had some nice birds. We even had to stop several times to let the dust settle to be able to see the road ahead! I won't mention how much dust accumulated on my car up there. Bring your dust-mask! Birds seen/heard included OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, WESTERN FLYCATCHER, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, BROWN CREEPER, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE, CASSIN'S FINCH, AND RED CROSSBILL.
It was a great day and very warm in the valley, but nice and comfortable on top of Biscuit Ridge. Mike shared a lot of knowledge on other critters, rocks, and plants that we saw as we went as well. My non-bird highlight was seeing a Monarch Butterfly (I just read Robert Michael Pyle's book, Chasing Monarchs) that Mike spotted at Wallula.
Good birding!
Tim O'Brien
Cheney, WA
mailto: kertim7179 at yahoo dot com