Frank Caruso and I had a wonderful and very LONG day of birding in Eastern Washington yesterday.  I will write up details  and include photos in my blog and will post a link later but I wanted to share a quick summary.
Stops included the  Hyak area at Snoqualmie Pass, Bullfrog Pond, the newly found Black Backed Woodpecker location in the burn on NF 230 just off Teanaway Middle Fork Road, the Bank Swallow Colony at the intersection of Highway 10 and Reecer Creek Road in Ellensburg, Vantage Highway and Recreation Road, County Line Ponds on Highway 26, Potholes State Park and then ending in the Liberty Area off Highway 97.
Although we were not looking for a large species list total and went right past many bird filled areas, we still ended the day with 98 species.  Highlights were:
Seven warbler species - Yellow, Yellow Rumped, Townsend's, Common Yellowthroat, Black Throated Gray, Nashville and MacGillivraysSix flycatcher species - Western, Hammond's, Gray, Dusky plus Pewee and Say's PhoebeSix swallow species - Barn, Violet Green, Tree, Northern Rough Winged, Cliff and at least 75 Bank Swallows at the nest colony site20 Black Necked Stilts, 18 American Avocets, 12 Wilson's Phalaropes, Cinnamon and Blue Winged Teal and a White Faced Ibis at the County Line Ponds6 Woodpecker species - 2 Black Backed Woodpeckers - plus Pileated, Downy, Hairy, Northern Flicker and Williamson's SapsuckersSinging Lark Sparrow and a flushed Common Poorwill in the first canyon off Recreation RoadA photo friendly Chukar and Loggerhead Shrike on Vantage Highway 
A great day BUT the Liberty area was the best:  Many of the warblers, woodpeckers and flycatchers above plus many singing Cassin's Finches and Cassin's Vireos, numerous singing Hermit Thrushes, Western Bluebirds and Mountain Chickadees, many singing Western Tanagers and at least 8 and probably more than a dozen Flammulated Owls - calling loudly and incessantly in a number of different locations.  Still no photos but truly incredible experience.  We also had three other owl species.  The owling was certainly enhanced by having no wind - missing the rain that came after we left - and zero other cars on the roads.
Including travel time it was more than 18 hours - but well worth it!!








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