A small contingent of ABC birders went out to study flycatchers Saturday, and the rain, cold and wind kept the birds in that family largely out of sight and earshot, but we had a good time trying and found some other good birds along the way.  Meeting at Snoqualmie summit Vera and Jack, Mark and Kelly, and Ed and Kay started by the ski slope looking, listening and trying to keep warm.  A Lincoln’s sparrow gave a fleeting glimpse, and it took us a while to figure out that the out-of-place birds that sounded like Spotted Sandpipers were in fact 4 Spotted sandpipers in the wet and snow by the tow station.

The Hyak hummingbird-house had only a few hummers out early, and we tried in vain to confirm that what sounded like a Gray Catbird was one, left as an out-of-place maybe. Gold Creek was cold too, but yielded a dipper that Vera saw after the rest of us took cover in the trees.  Great views of several Townsend’s warblers along with a fly-by of a Hermit thrush who helped us all remember their “chuck” call after hiding was fun.  Still to this point not a flycatcher heard or seen.

We decided to flee the high ground in hopes that the east-slope would be warmer, drier and less windy.  It was drier, windier and if it was warmer then not much.  At the road off Exit 62 to Stampede Pass we listened for the expected Hammond’s flycatchers, but the wind and cold kept it quiet.  We did see our first flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, and several  Warbling Vireos gave us a show along with lots of Western Tanagers.

We were surprised to see the area in front of the parking lot at Lake Easton Campground was clearcut, and a big parcel of trees taped to be cut near the lake.  It was pretty quiet there too, and so we dropped down to check out Bullfrog Pond at Salmon-le-sac.  It was pretty there, we had enjoyable looks at Cedar Waxwings, Rufous Hummingbirds among others as a Veery sang constantly.

After a pow-wow we decided to drive across Umtanum Rd to Yakima and chase the eastern rarities up Oak Creek Road in the afternoon.  The drive across yielded most of the expected birds including the always enjoyable

except missing Mountain Bluebird, though we kept moving and the high winds kept the sage birds out of sight and quiet.  We did manage to stop to marvel at how two “rocks” could look like snowy owls, and when we brought out binos up we saw:

with the ID confirmed by finding a watchful parent keeping a close eye on us from a nearby tree.  Check out the tiny “horns” on the lower bird.

At Oak Creek Rd we could not locate the Eastern Phoebe despite a fairly good effort over a couple of hours, and met several locals who had been there much of the day without relocating this bird.  I did hear what I’m pretty sure was the Chestnut-sided warbler at the area where others had found it, but never got a look, and  it sang only about 10 times in a row, then was quiet until we left about 5 PM.

Here’s our trip list.  See you all at the next meeting.

Canada Goose

Turkey Vulture

Osprey

Swainson’s Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

American Kestrel

Prairie Falcon

California Quail

Common Snipe King WA US Jun 9, 2012

Caspian Tern this was a brief look driving on the lake just south of the Road to Wenas Campground. Seemed out of place.

Rock Pigeon

Eurasian Collared-Dove

Great Horned Owl Adult and two babies off Umtanum Rd

Black Swift

Vaux’s Swift

Rufous Hummingbird

Lewis’s Woodpecker

Red-naped Sapsucker

Northern Flicker

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Western Wood-Pewee

Tree Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Barn Swallow

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Cedar Waxwing

American Dipper

Rock Wren

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Western Bluebird

Veery

Hermit Thrush

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Steller’s Jay

Black-billed Magpie

American Crow

Common Raven

European Starling

Warbling Vireo

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Townsend’s Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Lincoln’s Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Black-headed Grosbeak

Lazuli Bunting

Red-winged Blackbird

Brewer’s Blackbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

Bullock’s Oriole

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow