Hi all -
I spent Saturday in Skamania county, poking around and looking for spring migrants and the like. The forecast rain didn't materialize, and it turned out to be a pretty good day -; a few notable birds:

Yellow-breasted Chat - one singing away at Skamania Landing, a bit beyond the gate near the bridge at the east end of the Skamania Landing loop. Chats have become more regular in Skamania in recent years, it seems, but still not a gimmee.

Lazuli Bunting - at Hamilton Island, at least 3 males were singing away on the south side of the hill as you head to the boat launch.

Black Swift -; at the Little White Salmon hatchery, I hung out for a while near the hatchery buildings, watching a baby Am.Dipper beg and scanning the overcast skies. Took a bit, but as hoped a handful of Black Swifts showed up 2-3 times over the course of an hour.

I spent the afternoon poking around higher up in Skamania -; no snow until around 3500-3700, so plenty of access for many places North northwest of Willard, South Prairie Lake had Sora and Wilson's Snipe calling away, and a Solitary Sandpiper [code 5 in Skamania] working the edges. It looks like a great place for the ever-elusive Skamania Cinnamon Teal, but alas only Green-winged Teal popped out. I checked out Goose Lake and the Forlorn Lakes -; all promising looking mountain lakes, but not much beyond goldeneyes on them.

Warblers were out and singing throughout the day:At Little White Salmon hatchery, one or two Nashville Warblers were loud. Hermit Warblers were pretty thick once up in the hills. A handful of MacGillivray's around. And constant Yellow, Wilson's, Orange-crowned & Black-throated Gray to round out the warbler's.

All in all, a good day in Skamania

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA