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:
Two Baby Great Horned Owls sitting on the ground
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
