Although the responses to my inquiry on Tweeters about recent Acorn Woodpecker sightings were mixed at best, in a fit of madness today I added a trip to the Balch Lake area in Lyle/Klickitat County to what started as a trip first to finally get a photo of a Hermit Warbler at Rainbow Falls and to go see the Monk Parakeets that are in Yacolt.? It was a VERY LONG day - but a good one.? Will write a blog entry on the day and post it later but way too tired right now.? Just want to share that I was able to locate (and photograph albeit at distance) 3 Acorn Woodpeckers just off Balch Road and north of the lake.? There were very near a red house along Tuthill Road which runs uphill to north of the bend on Balch Road.? I believe this is the same place Wilson Cady had one or more earlier this year.? They mostly flew between large oak trees on both sides of the road - generally perched out of sight and/or very high in the trees making a photo almost impossible.? Coordinates Tuthill Rd - 45.722x-121.324
There are also numerous paired Ash Throated Flycatchers in the area and I found some Lesser Goldfinches not too far away.? I was gray at Rainbow Falls but numerous Hermit Warblers were singing and I finally got a grainy photo of one.? The Monk Parakeets cooperated in Yacolt - large stick nest in grassy area behind 508 Hubbard Road - awesome birds.
Some photos at:??https://goo.gl/photos/bystJr765ePY9Zy4A