The constant rainy days were starting to give me a severe case of cabin
fever. I had wanted to bird Eastern Washington all winter, but never made
it. Finally this last Monday, March 28th, I ventured across Snoqualmie Pass
to bird some of my favorite areas from Cle Elum, over Vantage to Othello.
Wow, what a gorgeous day it was! It was raining lightly on the way up to
the pass and it was foggy up there. The highway, however was bare and wet.
By the time I got to Cle Elum, it was sunny with small puffy clouds and the
temperature reached 60 degrees around Othello in the afternoon. At times
though, there was a rather cold wind blowing.
I started birding from Cle Elum heading east on SR 10, with the first stop
at the Swauk Creek bridge. It did not take long for the pair of *American
Dippers *to show up. They are once again nesting under the bridge. Things
were still quiet there, except for a* Song Sparrow *and *American Robin* at
the bridge and a* Red-winged Blackbird *at the pond. A pair of *Canada Geese
*flattened themselves on the pond with outstretched necks. I pretended not
to see them.
Next was a stop at the cliff a short way east of the bridge. I immediately
spotted a light speck towards the top of the cliff and putting my scope on
it, confirmed it as a* Prairie Falcon*. A couple of* Common Ravens* had been
flying about, croaking loudly. One of them landed on a rock in the lower
cliff and made some strange calls. This spurned the *Prairie Falcon *into
action. It took off and zoomed up and down and over the cliff a few times.
Quite an aerobatic display to watch! It never dive bombed the Raven though.
Seems it just wanted to let the Raven know, who was the master of the air
space. Also seen at the cliff, was a rather dark *Red-Tailed Hawk* and
immature* Bald Eagle*.
Proceeding on towards Ellensburg, I saw my first *Black-billed Magpies* and
*Turkey Vulture*s (2) and an adult *Bald Eagle*. I stopped at the
intersection of SR 10 and US 97 South. South of the railroad tracks and just
west, is large nest, which was occupied by Great Horned Owls last year,
however I was unable to spot anything on the nest. Next I cruised some of
the open farm country northwest of Ellensburg. It produced more *Red-tailed
Hawks*, *Turkey Vultures* (2) and *Common Ravens*. Eventually I found an
active nest with a very visible* Great Horned Owl*. It was being scolded by
two *Common Ravens*, causing it to swivel its head to keep an eye on the
black raiders. Additional species seen in this area, were *American Kestrel*
,* Western Meadowlark* and *Brewer's Blackbird*.
Just east of Ellensburg, a suicidal covey of *California Quails* crossed the
road. Fortunately it was still in a 35mph zone and a lady was able to stop.
I birded down Old Vantage Highway and was amazed how the wind turbines had
multiplied. Winter must be their breeding season! My next stop at Quilomeme
Wildlife Area targeted *Sage Sparrow*. Much to my surprise, before I turned
my car off in the front of the parking lot, I spotted one about 15 yards
out, right in front of me on top of a sagebrush bush! My compliments to the
greeting committee! Unfortunately, the only other person in the parking lot,
turned his lab mix loose, which spooked the sparrow. I did get lucky though
and found two *Sage Thrashers* a little further out a short time later. A
beautiful light *Rough-legged Hawk *hovering a little north of this area was
interesting.
On to the Ginkgo forest State Park. Things were still very quiet at this
migrant trap. The resident *Say's Phoebes* were around the information
center building and a single *Violet-green Swallow* made a couple of passes.
Below the overlook on the Columbia River, were *Common Goldeneyes,* *
Buffleheads* and two *Eared Grebes*. A large raft of *American
Coots*floated at the marina at the I-90 bridge.
Next I drove down Huntzinger Road to Wanapum State Park. I did find
the *Long-eared
Ow*l on its nest with enough head visible to identify it. Two pairs of *Common
Ravens* were involved in a very noisy aerial dogfight all over the park, a
possible territorial dispute. They took out time to scold the owl, aided by
a pair of *Black-billed Magpie*s.
My next stop at the Quincy WMA added *Northern Harrier* and *Ring-billed
Gull* to the day's list. I continued east on I-90 and south on Dodson Road.
Things were also very quiet with only a few ducks on the ponds until I
arrived at Birders Corner. Here I found a single male *Readhead* with a
group of *Lesser Scaup*, a flock of *Yellow-rumped Warbler*s and a
single *Pied-billed
Greb*e and single *Greater Yellowlegs*. The larger pond at the parking lot,
held about 30-40 *Canvasbacks*, a few *Northern Pintails*, *Mallards*, *
Gadwall*s, *Green-winged Teals* and* Killdeer*s. I proceeded on to Othello
with a short stop at the Para Ponds on McMahon Road. Again, apart from a
large number of *Cackling -* and *Canada Gees*e, things were very quiet.,
with the exception of a few* Northern * *Shovelers* and a couple
of*Double-Crested Cormorants.
*
East of Othello and east of SR 17, a large bird doing a display flight
caught my attention. A nice pair of *Long-billed Curlews* was feeding in a
field. The male repeatedly launched into display flights, gliding back to
the ground slowly. This was a bird I had hoped to find. I also found a pair
of* Burrowing Owl*s, at a location where they have nested in previous years.
Interestingly, one of them - possibly the male- has a very light head. Seems
it is indeed the same individual as last year. Maybe it is getting old and
gray like me?
The County Line Ponds on SR 26, west of Othello, had at least 2000 or more
resting *Canada-* and *Cackling Geese*, with a few ducks, mainly *Northern
Shovelers* mixed in, but no shorebirds yet. I did manage to find four *Sandhill
Cranes* with the geese, the first of the year for me. From there, I drove
west and turned south on B SE road towards Crab Creek. This is one of my
favorite stops and I was not disappointed! By 5:30 pm, thousands of geese
and hundreds of *Sandhill Cranes* were creating a spectacle, with loudly
calling and trumpeting lines and "V" formations filling the evening sky in
all directions. Also numerous ducks were in the air. A single swan
(possible Trumpeter) with a neck band came flying up Crab Creek, Driving
south on B SE Road, I found two *Loggerhead Shrikes* on the power line
wires, about a half a mile apart. Another hoped for bonus find for the day!
Also in the swampy area just south of RT 26, I had a couple of* Virginia
Rail*s calling. At Crab Creek, I spooked several* *hundred* Mallards*
At this time a high overcast started moving in and so ended a wonderful day
birding the sunny east side of our fine state! Reluctantly I drove home to
our soggy side of the mountains.

Good Birding!
--
*Hans Feddern*
Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
thefedderns at gmail.com
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