Hi Tweeters,
Eleven intrepid birders battled high winds, at times, on today's field trip out to Ginkgo State Park and areas south. Most of our target birds - with the notable exception of Loggerhead Shrike - were found. Quilomene Wildlife Area is truly a great place to locate Sage Thrasher, Sage Sparrow, and many other species of the Shrub-Steppe, our primary focus for the day. Although winds prevented us from wracking up very many passerine migrants, good company and good cheer prevailed, and we finished the day with great views of a pair of Bald Eagles sitting atop their nest south of Wanapum State Park!
Cheers,
Carl Haynie (leader)
Trip List covering Thorp, Ellensburg, Old Vantage Hwy, Ginkgo State Park, and Columbia River parks south to the spillway:
Greater White-fronted Goose - one near a stock pond outside Ellensburg with Canadas (wild?)Canada GooseGadwallMallardGreater ScaupBuffleheadCommon Goldeneye - below spillway south of WanapumCalifornia Quail (I)Common LoonClark?s Grebe - distant look at one on the opposite side of the Columbia R.Double-crested Cormorant - flyby over Yakima R. off Vantage HwyGreat Blue HeronTurkey VultureOspreyBald Eagle - including a pair sitting on a nest south of Wanapum SP - a terrific end to the field trip!Northern HarrierCooper?s HawkRed-tailed HawkAmerican KestrelAmerican CootKilldeerCaspian TernRock Pigeon (I)Eurasian Collared-Dove (I) - 5-6 near the Cle Elum Bakery, a worthwhile stop for more than one reasonGreat Horned Owl - sitting on a Red-tailed Hawk nest outside EllensburgWhite-throated Swift - several in courtship mode off the cliffs over the Columbia at GinkgoNorthern FlickerSay?s Phoebe - single wind-blown bird at the Ginkgo visitor centerSteller?s JayBlack-billed MagpieAmerican CrowCommon RavenHorned Lark - pairs in Quilomene Wildlife Area at MP 20 off Hwy 10Tree SwallowViolet-green SwallowCliff SwallowMountain Bluebird - great looks off Hayward Rd near ThorpAmerican RobinSage Thrasher - several singing on territory in Quilomene Wildlife Area (MP 20)European Starling (I)Yellow-rumped WarblerBrewer?s Sparrow - a few defending territory in Quilomene Wildlife Area (MP 20)Vesper Sparrow - several gave good looks off Hayward Rd.Sage Sparrow - about a dozen on territory during hike in Quilomene Wildlife Area (MP 20)Savannah Sparrow - two off Hayward Rd.White-crowned SparrowDark-eyed JuncoRed-winged BlackbirdWestern MeadowlarkBrewer?s BlackbirdEvening Grosbeak - a raucous flock near the Cle Elum Bakery allowed great scope viewsHouse Sparrow (I)