Hello, Tweeters and OBOL -;

Each year the Wild Turkeys team runs a 48-hour Gonzo Trip for the Audubon Society of Portland's annual Birdathon, trying to find as many species as we can to raise money for Portland Audubon's outstanding conservation and education programs. This year for the first time we became carpetbaggers and ran our route in Washington! This past weekend, 23 of us (nearly all Oregonians) traveled from Walla Walla to Grays Harbor, finding 208 species and raising $28,000 and growing. A chronology of trip highlights is below, and lists for each stop are being finalized on eBird.

The trip is chronicled in photos and videos here: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Wild-Turkeys-Birdathon-Team-Portla <http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Wild-Turkeys-Birdathon-Team-Portland/208687749171050>nd/208687749171050 <http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Wild-Turkeys-Birdathon-Team-Portland/208687749171050>
and you can still make pledges to our team (or any other Birdathon team) here: http://audubonportland.org/support/fundraising-events/birdathon/birdathon_201 <http://birdathon.audubonportland.org/>8 . A huge THANK YOU to all of you who support Portland Audubon's vital work with your pledges!


DAY ONE: A Great (Gray) Start

We kicked off our route on Friday, 18 May, at mid-day high in the Blue Mountains outside Walla Walla. Our scouters this year had found themselves in unfamiliar territory at times, being more accustomed to our several well-worn routes across Oregon, so we were fortunate to be able to enlist the help of Mike and MerryLynn Denny for the eastern end of our route. Not only did Mike and MerryLynn advise us, but they accompanied our scouters in the field and helped lead our group around on Day One. As a result, we received a fabulous tour of the wonders of the Walla Walla region and its many birds. We send out a huge thank you to Mike and MerryLynn!

We began by visiting a GREAT GRAY OWL nest the Dennys had found. From a respectful distance we quietly viewed the four(!) young in a broken snag being watched over by a parent in a neighboring tree, and absorbed satisfying views of a species that was a lifer for some. In this lovely stretch of forest, DUSKY FLYCATCHERS called and TOWNSEND'S and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS sang, and our only RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET of the weekend belted out its amazing little song. After this terrific start, we headed downslope, picking up birds like LAZULI BUNTING, WESTERN TANAGER, WARBLING VIREO, and a driveby GOLDEN EAGLE in flight, but missed Green-tailed Towhee.

While MerryLynn scouted spots ahead of us, Mike led us to a yard chock full of hummingbird feeders that produced CALLIOPE, RUFOUS, and BLACK-CHINNED HUMMERS within literally seconds of our exiting the vans. In the 38-year history of our Birdathon team, I doubt that we have ever had a more efficient hummingbird stop! A nearby bridge produced AMERICAN DIPPER, and we were off. We failed to find Lesser Goldfinch at Rooks Park, but picked up several key species as we traversed dry-land areas, including LARK SPARROW, ROCK WREN, GREAT HORNED OWL, SWAINSON'S HAWK, and a stakeout GRASSHOPPER SPARROW that only some ears managed to hear.

We next began to quench our thirst for waterbirds, picking up COMMON LOON, WHITE PELICAN, and CLARK'S and WESTERN GREBES at the Port of Wallula, among many BANK SWALLOWS. A PRAIRIE FALCON appeared briefly over the cliffs at Wallula Gap, while WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS sailed high overhead.

We then caught up with MerryLynn at Millet Pond, where the Dennys had been monitoring a group of WHITE-FACED IBIS, and sure enough, several could be scoped through vegetation in the back slough. This spot produced 7 duck species, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, AMERICAN BITTERN, BLACK-NECKED STILTS, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS, and a nice flyby FORSTER'S TERN. Then it was on to Simplot Ponds for more waterbirds, including REDHEADS, CINNAMON TEAL, WILSON'S PHALAROPES, SORA, VIRGINIA RAIL, and more. On the way out, we paused along the highway to view two BARN OWL nests in a sand bank. Ghostly faces with dark eyes peered out from the gloom of each hole, rotating around in curiosity to get a better bead on us. I was amazed how near to one another the nests were; apparently the owls do not mind close neighbors if food is plentiful and nest holes are limited.

As we drove toward McNary NWR, we picked up a lingering SNOW GOOSE and two of our group spied a pair of TRUMPETER SWANS. The water at McNary HQs was thick with ducks and shorebirds, including CANVASBACKS and 8 other duck species, plus AMERICAN AVOCET and more Stilts and Phalaropes. As we celebrated passing 100 species with the traditional passing of the beverage after which our team is named, we thanked Mike and MerryLynn for their warm hospitality and amazing assistance, which truly went above and beyond the call.

On the way west in Franklin Co. we had luck with a stakeout BURROWING OWL perched atop a knoll and silhouetted by the setting sun. Then at dusk we made it to the TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD colony at Columbia NWR, where the numerous Trikes were letting loose a cacophonous good-night symphony. After a fine dinner in Ellensburg, our Owling Contingent headed north to poke around for nightbirds, coming up with one distant COMMON POORWILL, one FLAMMULATED OWL at the very limit of human hearing, and one very chatty YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT.


DAY TWO: From Sage to Sea

Saturday, 19 May, found us in the sagebrush at sunrise, serenaded by SAGE THRASHERS and BREWER'S and VESPER SPARROWS at the Quilomene Wildlife Area. The air was cool and still, the wildflowers were out, the air smelled sweet; it was a lovely morning walk. We chased down a pair of SAGEBRUSH SPARROWS, enjoyed the spectacular blue of a male MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD, and tallied our trip's only HORNED LARK. I jogged a bit further looking unsuccessfully for Loggerhead Shrike, but got crippling views of a raspberry-red male CASSIN'S FINCH drinking from a puddle in the road just feet away. However, I missed the flyby SHORT-EARED OWL and the in-the-hand PYGMY SHORT-HORNED LIZARD that the rest of the group enjoyed!

We advanced west up Umptanum and N. Wenas Rds, the scenery getting nicer and nicer. It was cloudy, cool, and quieter birdwise than we'd hoped, but we got great views of two LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS, saw a PYGMY NUTHATCH at a nest hole, and had OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, GRAY FLYCATCHER, TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, and other species. A RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER flew by at Wenas Creek on Maloy Road, where a MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER sang and a PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER called. (Our thanks to Andy Stepniewski for offering to advise with the Yakima Co. stretch of our route, which was even more beautiful than I'd expected.)

A restroom stop at Oak Creek Visitors Center produced more LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS, BULLOCK'S ORIOLES, and a large-looking accipiter that turned from Cooper's/Goshawk to simply COOPER'S once photos were examined and caution exercised. Up Oak Creek Road we had another Cooper's and our only NASHVILLE WARBLER of the weekend, plus a handful of butterflies.

We were looking forward to our next stop, Bethel Ridge, as our scouters had had great birds up there and we needed several montane species. But 3 or 4 miles up the road, near-disaster struck. After feeling the van tires slip a bit on a muddy spot on the road, we realized that we were about to get into trouble if we went any further. Apparently it had rained hard here in the two days since our scouters had been here, and the twisting mountain road had turned dangerously slick. We gingerly turned our three vans around in 7- or 9-point turns and began a slow, careful descent down the narrow road. On our left the slope fell away precipitously for hundreds of feet downward through the open pine forest. The lead van began to slide in slow motion to the right, headed for a ditch. We stopped and assessed the situation. Harnessing our umpteen collective years of higher education and whatever small amount of common sense we could muster, we jerry-rigged a series of rocks and logs in strategic locations around the tires, then applied sideways pressure as Jay Saux (from New Orleans and used to driving in muddy conditions) took the wheel of Van 1. Jay masterfully guided the van down to safety as we held our breath, then came back up the hill for Van 2. One possible outcome of the Bethel Ridge Incident would have had Van 2 sliding uncontrollably over the edge and taking down the hillside with it Wild Turkeys founder and Portland conservation icon Mike Houck, just two years short of his 40th consecutive Birdathon. But thankfully this tragic alternate history was averted, and instead Jay managed to steer the vehicle safely past the trouble spots. As a finale, Heather Wilson took charge of Van 3 and through sheer willpower and the conviction that failure was not an option, got her vehicle through the muddy obstacle course. As we all exhaled and gave thanks to the birding gods, our first CASSIN'S VIREO voiced its congratulations from the nearby trees.

So. Back to birding. A lovely stop lower on the road produced breeding LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER, a Red-naped Sapsucker for everyone, and a heard-only WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER. When Ron, Heather, and Jen walked uphill to retrieve the vans to pick the rest of us up, they were rewarded with a SOOTY GROUSE and a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER. We left Bethel Ridge without Clark's Nutcracker, but were quite happy to trade that for getting the heck off that mountain in one piece!

Traveling through the Cascades, we made brief stops at Tieton Airport Marsh, Clear Lake (BARROW'S GOLDENEYE), and White Pass/Leech Lake (GRAY JAY, VARIED THRUSH). We then stopped at Packwood for coffee and restrooms, and a subset of us birding the neighborhood picked up six(!) new species, including our only VAUX'S SWIFTS, CEDAR WAXWING, EVENING GROSBEAKS, and PURPLE FINCH of the trip.

Coming down the west slope of the Cascades, we strategized like mad in the lead van. Hopelessly behind schedule, we realized we'd fail to reach Tokeland much before dark, let alone be able to make a run for Snowy Plovers at Grayland. We decided to abandon the goal of a coastal finish tonight, and instead try for inland target birds on the way. So we turned south to take a stab at a long-staying White-tailed Kite at the Lewis Co. Airport. Round the airport we drove, with 23 pairs of eyes scanning every snag and hedgerow, and stopping for every hovering Kestrel or gleaming white beer can, but we failed turn up the Kite. We did pick up Yellowthroat and Scrub Jay, however, and scored an amazing coup with RUFFED GROUSE. Dave Ward had commented to me, "Keep an eye out for Ruffed Grouse, because sometimes on these rural Lewis County roads I've had them in random places on the roadside." Well, I should have taken him more seriously, because just two minutes later, he and Ron spotted two Ruffed Grouse CHICKS skittering off the roadside, as Momma Grouse no doubt watched in alarm nearby!

Our last inland stop was Rainbow Falls State Park, a key stronghold of HERMIT WARBLER in the state of Washington. Sure enough, we heard several Hermit Warblers singing invisibly from the tall trees, schooling us in the impressive breadth of their repertoires. We also managed great views of a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, and picked up SWAINSON'S THRUSH, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, and PACIFIC WREN.

After a delicious dinner in Aberdeen and a bit too much wine, the Owling Swat Team sought to claim glory in the night. We first struck out on Barred Owl, then heard some distant machinery or trucks backing up that sounded like Pygmy or Saw-whet, and finally heard a single unknown noise in an area where Dave had once had 6 Saw-whets. Strike three. … Well, it wouldn't be a Gonzo trip if we all turned in before 2 a.m.


DAY THREE: Shorebirds and Shearwaters!

Too-few-hours of sleep later, we awoke and hit the road, headed for Westport. Sunday, 20 May, was overcast but not too rainy or windy. PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, WANDERING TATTLERS, and a host of common coastal species greeted us in the marina and offshore. We then hit Bottle Beach, knowing full well that it was getting a bit late for shorebird migration, and hoping that we hadn't screwed up too badly on the tides. But we hit the jackpot: 10 species of shorebirds were on the beach, headlined by over 100 RED KNOTS in full breeding plumage. Nowhere in Oregon can one expect to see anything like this number of Red Knots, and it was a life bird for some. RUDDY TURNSTONES and DUNLIN showing their red backs and black bellies were other faves, and we soaked in the spectacle. Bill Shelmerdine showed up as we were leaving, and probably found more, but we had to get moving if we were to cover much ground before our end-time of 12:50 pm.

We found 10 WHIMBRELS in the grass at the Bishop Athletic Complex in Aberdeen, then headed for Ocean Shores. We spent an hour seawatching from the jetty, watching in awe as thousands of SOOTY SHEARWATERS whirled around and around far offshore, alternately landing on the water and taking off again. I had never seen this spectacle during the spring, and our estimate of 8,000 Sooties was no doubt conservative. Several hundred PACIFIC LOONS and SURF SCOTERS, with some WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and RED-THROATED and Common Loons, flew by at a steady pace. Dave spotted a JAEGER sp., I glimpsed a MARBLED MURRELET, and a group of 4 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES winged by just as we were about to fold up the scopes. On the way out, a SAVANNAH SPARROW gave us our 200th species of the weekend.

We'd had to cut Tokeland from the itinerary, so were desperate to find Purple Martin and Caspian Tern somewhere, anywhere. A peek at Quinault Harbor paid off with PURPLE MARTINS inspecting a hole in some marine equipment, and our first CASPIAN TERN (and ANNA'S HUMMER) were seen from a residential neighborhood. We then drove the outer beach, which was positively covered in SANDERLINGS in their full range of plumages. I'm kicking myself for not counting the Sanderlings from the start, because a full count would have produced a truly impressive number. 2,000-plus, maybe? I have no idea…. We had 9 MARBLED GODWITS among the commoner shorebirds, and surprisingly, a very late GLAUCOUS GULL. (There were plenty of worn whitish Glaucous-winged Gulls on the beach, but this bird was different, and likely was the same Glaucous Gull Dave had studied at leisure during scouting just a week earlier.)

With time running out, Hoquiam was our last stop, where the sewage ponds produced GREATER SCAUP, species #208. We walked the trail at Bowerman Basin as the clock ran out, then gathered to celebrate a fun-filled and successful first foray by the Wild Turkeys outside of Oregon. Holding the bottle of Wild Turkey aloft, we toasted the wonderful state of Washington, then headed to Olympia to enjoy a trip-closing meal.

This year's team was once again led by Ron Carley, Jennifer Devlin, Dave Ward, and El Jefe Mike Houck. The rest of the 2018 WILD TURKEYS roster included: Peg Christensen, Casey Cunningham, Ivy Dunlap, Jeff Gottfried, Eric Gropp, Wink Gross, Tim Kurtz, Alan Locklear, Becki Marsh, Jeanne Myhre, Beth Parmenter, Emily Roth, Anne Sammis, Claire Saux, Jay Saux, Bob Wilson, Heather Wilson, Ali Young, and your faithful correspondent.

Here's looking forward to next year, and wishing good birding to everyone in both Oregon and Washington,

Jay Withgott
Wild Turkeys '11-;'18

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/pipermail/tweeters/attachments/20180523/b5943efa/attachment.html>