Subject: [Tweeters] Lucky in Lyle: Acorn Woodpecker 2/6
Date: Feb 8 12:23:43 2011
From: Paul Hicks - phicks at accessgrace.org


Tweets: Better lucky than good? I had at least three strokes of good luck
over the weekend: (1) I unexpectedly wound up in Hood River (my wife
kidnapped me for a romantic getaway, and let me pack my binocs); (2) I got
to spend 5.5(!) hours birding in Klickitat County without hurting my wife's
feelings (while she got a facial and shopped); (3) I chanced upon an ACORN
WOODPECKER on Sunday, 2/6. Does it get any better than this? Oh, and we
watched most of the Super Bowl, too.
Details: En route to Lyle on SR 14 I happened to stop at a pull-off (metal
utility shed next to railroad just E of mp73) where there are some dead
trees at the base of the basalt bluff and a little stream with a waterfall
running down the ravine. I remembered seeing a Lewis's Woodpecker and Hermit
Thrush here many Aprils ago. After 5+ minutes a dark bird rising from the
ravine above and breaking the horizon Lewis's-like caught my eye and lighted
in an oak at the crest of the bluff. Just before lifting off again it turned
to show the face and underparts, and from the great distance the white
flashes in flight confirmed the ID. I noted the location on the old hiway
which runs along the cliffs above and returned after a couple hours poking
around Lyle and Balch Rd. I was able to locate two Acorn Woodpeckers among
the oaks in the upper section of this sheltered draw. The area beyond the
bluff (where the first bird I saw was apparently headed) offers plenty of
habit, an expansive stand of oaks extending on up the hillside north and
northwest in the direction of Balch Rd less than a mile away.
Directions: Coming from the W, turn off SR 14 onto the old hwy at the lake
near mp 71; on the final ascent look for a small pulloff past mailbox #365
and the yellow "school bus" sign (there's a wider pulloff before this one.)
Coming from Lyle, cross the bridge and turn right up the hill; keep left at
the major fork; maybe a 1/2 mile past the "second" Balch Rd intersection
look for the first pulloff on the left side after beginning to descend. SR
14 is clearly visible below.
Other birds: I spotted two ACORN WOODPECKERs in the ravine. Thought I may
have heard LESSER GOLDFINCH, but all I could find were 20 PINE SISKIN with 6
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH feasting on the abundant 3-inch catkins. Lyle County Park
had a HERMIT THRUSH, 1 or 2 CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE with kinglets, and a
singing DIPPER. I also picked up my obligatory tick -- I'm batting 1000 for
that locale. 3 pair of WESTERN BLUEBIRD were on the powerlines at mp 70.5. I
searched on Sunday morning and Monday afternoon but did not find the
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK reported at the Bingen marina. Sunday was blustery but a
mild, spring-like 60 degrees, and it seemed the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWs were
more "golden" and ready for spring than around home. Good birding!
-- Paul Hicks / Tenino, S Thurston Co / phicks AT accessgrace.org