Subject: [Tweeters] Cowiche Canyon mostly
Date: Jun 10 07:10:33 2012
From: wheelermombi at comcast.net - wheelermombi at comcast.net


Good morning Tweeters,

I spent Saturday birding with Dave and Sherry Hayden and Barb McDowell, mostly in Cowiche Canyon in Yakima County. Although there was a constant breeze at either end of the canyon, much of the central section was protected by the canyon's ridges. We saw and heard several YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS, including a couple of males having a territorial dispute. This was one of the target birds of the day and a lifer for Barb. Other species seen in the canyon were BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, WESTERN TANAGER, LAZULI BUNTING, a surprise GRAY CATBIRD (very good spot by Dave), another surprising OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (spotted by Barb; all of the other species that we saw were found by Sherry, my job is to provide doughnuts and bad jokes); WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, WESTERN KINGBIRD, CANYON AND ROCK WREN, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD, CALIFORNIA QUAIL, WHITE-THROATED SWIFT, TURKEY VULTURE, A. KESTREL, RED-TAILED HAWK, and a few more common species.

We next made a quick stop at the base of the cliffs off of Hwy 12, along Powerhouse Rd. near where it intersects with Ackley Rd. (Between Naches and Yakima). There we found 2 adult PRAIRIE FALCONS with 4 nearly fledged young. The 'chicks' were almost adult-sized and were actively trying out their wings. I think that they will probably begin to fly very soon. It was really amazing to watched all of them. Circling about the cliffs were both WHITE-THROATED and VAUX'S SWIFTS. The petroglyphs at the base of the cliff alone makes the stop worthwhile.

On the way back west, we detoured to Oak Creek Rd. to look for the Eastern Phoebe and Chestnut-sided Warbler. It was already after 4:30 by then. We dipped on both species. Still, the birding along this road is always great this time of year. Most of the species that we saw have been recently reported on Tweeters. Dave spotted an AMERICAN DIPPER near the entrance in Oak Creek.

Good birding,

Lonnie Somer
Olympia
wheelermombi at comcast.net