Subject: [Tweeters] WOS Blue Mt. Fieldtrip
Date: Jul 4 12:17:32 2012
From: washingtonbirder.Ken Knittle - washingtonbirder at hotmail.com



June 29 found the WOS Blue Mt. group heading east with birding on the way. Highlights for those caravaning through Klickitat Co. on 6 Prong Rd. were no Black-thr. Sparrows, but 2 Prairie Falcons. A stop at Kennewick produced both Northern Parulas. 2 Clark's Nutcrackers were at Boundary Campground, but were gone when the main group arrived. All 11 birders in 5 vehicles found their tents and sleeping bags scattered on a section of the campground. This was the first WOS Blue Mt. trip for almost half the group. June 30 we had Veery, Black-backed Woodpecker, Belted Kingfisher, and Towsend's Solitaire along Pataha Creek. Going east near the largest patch of sage we found Brewer's Sparrow and 2 Sage Thrashers, both good birds for Asotin Co. At Swallows Park we found 1 American Wigeon-odd for summer, and a pair of Blue-winged Teal and Western Sandpiper, which was an adult most likely heading south already. Lunch was enjoyed at Fields Spring State Park with a Pacific-slope Flycatcher and Brown Creeper near the entrance to the park. At Wenatchee Guard Station the Gray Flycatcher earlier found by Terry Gray came into the I-pod. No Green-tailed Towhees could we dig up. There was still snow on the road going into Diamond Peak trailhead with the plant life a few weeks behind normal. Dark clouds awaited us at Misery Springs campground along with Pacific Wrens singing everywhere until the first thunderhead passed through only to be followed all night with many more bouts of lighting and thunder and rain all night. Misery Springs is over 6,000 feet and morning was welcomed as everyone tried to dry out.

July 1 found the group heading down FR40 towards Grouse Flats. Birding was slow as it was still on the chilly side, when an odd looking bird that several thought was a shrike zoomed down the ravine to never reappear. Just a weird place for a shrike to be no matter what the season. Before getting to Grouse Flats a distant Northern Pygmy-Owl responded, but did not show it's-self. We could hear Ruffed Grouse clucking in the brush and a Wilson's Snipe from the north-most parts of Grouse Flats winnowed. By the time we birded down to the Grand Ronde River it was lunch time and warm. A Golden Eagle was spotted soaring over the high ridges and the nesting Bald Eagles had 3 young in the nest. Yellow-breasted Chats gave everyone great views with one even sitting on the fence wire and fence post before flying back into it's hiding habitats. A Red-eyed Vireo was nesting on the way up Rattlesnake Grade. July 2 was much colder at Misery Springs in much drier sleeping conditions when a Great Gray Owl called twice after mid-night. Figured it must have been hunting as I had never had them at this high of elevation since the 1960's when finding them in several places in Yosemite National Park. All other known Great Gray sightings are usually in Ponerosa Pine habitats in Garfield County, which are much lower. Back near Boundary Campground we found all 3 nuthatches and a female Pine Grosbeak. At the bottom of Blind Grade we stopped for fuel and had good looks at a Cordilleran Flycatcher. Spring Lake produced Veeries and a Wood Duck. Rainbow Lakes had a group of Bighorn Sheep with young on the high cliffs. Lewis's Woodpeckers were found on burnt snags south of Rainbow Lakes. Again getting hot we headed up Patrick Grade and enjoyed the high mountains as we check Godman and east to Tepee Trailhead camp. We had planned to camp there, but lots of clouds and wind forced our destination to lower camping and finally ended up in Lewis & Clark Trail State Park in the group camping area with at least 3 Western Screech-Owls just feet over our heads and their cool sounding calls in this warm and humid place that we weren't use to after sleeping above 6,000 for the past few nights. One of the group also had found a Black-crowned Night-Heron along the creek that flows along the northern border of the campground. A Night-Heron squawked for those in camp to hear it take off as night fell. July 3 after a windy night and threats of rain we attempted to bird eastern Walla Walla County. A Hammond's Flycatcher wasn't even calling, but gave everyone good looks as it too was waiting for the wind to quit. On our way home some of us had a Bonaparte's Gull and a Great Egret just east of Wallula Jct. near the Walla Walla Rvier mouth. It was fun to have such a great group. We found many Williamson's Sapsuckers and Western Tanagers were at most stops. Just odd how hot in the lower elevations and finding snow patches in the high country.



Ken
Knittle

Vancouver WA
98665 mailto:washingtonbirder.com
Washington Birder online



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