Sorry for the delay in bringing back news of our trip to Wenas Creek
Campground last weekend.

We had a blast. We did make it to the campground and I was please the road
was only slightly worse than last year, albeit the water was much higher and
widespread with two deep pools (not puddles) that could cause a small or
standard passenger car grief. I will qualify the conditions as: if I used my
wife?s Camry I would be in deep poop with her.

My time management on the trip was dismal as there were so many photo
opportunities of feeding and singing, which I bagged some really great
shots: beetles in Bluebirds beaks
nice ring, but sweeter sight, Brewer?s
Blackbirds with numerous bugs their beaks in dancing courtship and a really
great shot of Brewers Blackbird in flight?beak open 9-12 inches before
capturing it! We started from Ellensburg and by the time we got to the
campground we could only spend one and a half hours before heading back to
Port Orchard.

We only spotted one White-headed Woodpecker and that was at Blue Bird box
#37, but could hear them in the campground. Of note:

Black-headed Grosbeak - Umatilla Falls pull out

Western Tanagar - Beginning of N. Wenas Rd.

Western Wood Peewee - Paved portion of Umptanum Rd. to campground

Western Kingbird - Paved portion of Umptanum Rd. to campground

Western Meadowlark - Upper portion of Umptanum Rd.

Mountain Bluebird - Box #110

And of course Western Bluebird

Brewers and Savannah Sparrows - upper Umptanum Rd

BUT the pi?ce de r?sistance
.

Was the pair of Short-eared owls spotted looking westward from Box #117 8:30
a.m. Sunday.

They were taking turns hunting and alternately sitting on three different
utility poles. I got some great shots of them sitting and flying with one
slightly out of focus diving in to a large sage bush.

Thanks to all of you who provided us with positive feedback and
encouragement to make the trip
my only regret ? I wish I was still there
photographing our late but welcome spring!



Marty at www.martykramerstudio.com