Nearly all of my Washington birding has been on the rainy side, except for day-trips to Cle Elum, Vantage, Naches, Othello and Kennewick, in search of a specific bird. Without a proper vehicle or the courage for this 80 year old, a winter trip into the snow doesn't work.

For several years, I have saved all the eastern Washington Tweeters posts, for a possible summer trip. My birding buddy, Kurt Howard, and I decided now was the time. I put push pins on a map for all the roads mentioned in the posts. From that, I outlined our trip, recognizing that almost all of the posts were from winter trips--what would summer bring?

First stop in Cle Elum --again didn't find me a Veery. The second stop was Alta Lake State Park, where we found many tunnels in a vertical sandbank, where we saw dozens of Bank Swallows (a lifer for me) feeding chicks. This was near Pateros, one mile into the park entrance road. Find the picture at: https://pbase.com/alndonna/image/169518847

Most of the trip birding was from the car. Most of the roads we took were R & R only (Robins and Ravens.) A few roads were birdy. Best of all was Mary Ann Creek Road, so good that we drove it twice. Also good was the whole length of Havilla Rd. And, at the entrance to Pearrygin Lake State Park, we found a pair of Dusty Grouse (another lifer) crossing the entrance road. Find the picture at https://pbase.com/alndonna/image/169518857

Not so birdy roads included Sun Mountain Lodge, Wolf Creek, Highlands Sno-Park, and Conconully State Park. I'm not sure we located the Nealey Road feeders. The house had a dozen goats, but no trace of any feeders.

We saw many Mountain Bluebirds and Eastern Kingbirds
(see picture at https://pbase.com/image/169518870
and a few Lazuli Buntings--all birds I seldom see near home.

Traveling from Tacoma, we spent the first night in Winthrop and the second in Omak. We drove a total of 840 miles over 3 days-enjoyed the birds and the scenery.
Al in Tacoma

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