I had a great weekend birding Yakima, Benton, Walla Walla and Franklin
counties. The weather was great, except the wind on Sunday. I got most of
my targets and a few unexpected birds. Best birds of the weekend were:



At my first stop on Saturday - Lateral C in Yakima - I had a BOBOLINK very
close in the small tree north of the creek on the West side. I found a
Bobolink here as my lifer last year, but at a long distance and was hoping
for a better view. I was able to view the birds for at least 5 minutes.



Second stop was Fort Simcoe State Park. There I got my target year birds -
Ash-throated Flycatcher and Lewis's Woodpecker. But the best bird was a
LEAST FLYCATCHER. The bird was flycatching and "Chebeking". I found him
on the Westside of the park trail that goes around the park - where the
trail takes a 90 degree turn to the South.



After my walk around Fort Simone State Park I headed for Benton County. On
Crooks Road about halfway between North Crosby Road and North Rothrock Road
I heard the sound of a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW. I stopped and played a tape.
Two or three birds popped up and perched about 30 yards away.



I birded a few other places before heading to Bateman Island. There I found
a male LESSER GOLDFINCH. The bird was sing in the shrubs to the right of
the path, just after you get to the island.



I spent the night in Walla Walla and headed for Biscuit Ridge hoping for a
Green-tailed Towhee (dipped). On Biscuit Ridge Road I had a pair of
CORDILLERAN/PACIFIC-SLOPED FLYCATCHERs. I had great views and heard (and
watched the male sing) just 15-20 feet above me. The song sounded more like
the "tee-seet" of a Cordilleran, also both birds responded more to the
Cordilleran tape, than they did to the Pacific-Sloped. Birds were in trees
just above the first bridge over the creek as you are heading up to the
ridge. The bridge is about .2 mile before Tracy Road or about 4.2 miles
from Highway 12.



I stopped in Vantage on my way home to try for the Black-throated Sparrow.
It was way too windy and I dipped.



Barry Johnson

Lynnwood, WA