Photo: Eastern Kingbird by Philip Dickinson
June 13, 2023
Undeterred by a high-wind forecast, we headed over the mountains to the canyons and dessert steppe around Ellensburg. A Gray Catbird at Snoqualmie Pass kicked off a good day of birding. It was breezy on Thorp Prairie, but we had good looks at Vesper Sparrow and several Western Meadowlark. Taneum Creek and Yakima Canyons offered relative calm conditions. Along Taneum Road, highlights were Veery, Nashville Warbler, Western Tanager, Lazuli Bunting, California Quail, Red-naped Sapsucker and Hairy Woodpecker. Yakima Canyon offered a lunch spot with stunning views, plus Yellow-headed Blackbird, Bullock’s Oriole, Eastern Kingbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Canyon Wren and House Wren. We finished the day on Umptanum Road with Sage Thrasher, Brewer’s Sparrow, Western Bluebird and a dozen Mountain Bluebird.
65 species (approx. qty.)
Attendees: Phil, Diane, Rex, Denny, Doug, Merilee, Val, Judy L., Bruce, Judy B. Maureen T., Bev, Robin, Lynda, Norwyn,
CHECKLIST:
WATERFOWL: Mallard (3)
GALLINACIOUSE BIRDS: California Quail (1)
PELICANS, HERONS, IBIS: Great Blue Heron (1)
VULTURE: Turkey Vulture (14)
RAPTORS: Osprey (1), Northern Harrier (1), Red-tailed Hawk (3), American Kestrel (3), Peregrine Falcon (1)
SHOREBIRDS: Killdeer (1)
DOVES, PIGEONS: Band-tailed Pigeon (1), Mourning Dove (5)
HUMMMINGBIRDS: Rufous Hummingbird (3)
WOODPECKERS: Red-naped Sapsucker (1), Hairy Woodpecker (1), Northern Flicker (2)
FLYCATCHERS: Western Wood- Pewee (10), Willow Flycatcher (1), Pacific-slope Flycatcher (1), Eastern Kingbird (3)
SHRIKES, VIREOS: Warbling Vireo (6)
CORVIDS: Steller’s Jay (2), Black-billed Magpie (2), American Crow (10), Common Raven (16)
LARKS, SWALLOWS: Tree Swallow (3), Violet-Green Swallow (14), Cliff Swallow (9), Barn Swallow (12)
CHICKADEES, BUSHTIT: Black-capped Chickadee (2)
NUTHATCHES, CREEPER: Red-breasted Nuthatch (1)
WRENS: House Wren (3)
THRUSHES: Western Bluebird (1), Mountain Bluebird (12), Veery (2), American Robin (10)
MIMIDS, STARLINGS: Gray Catbird (1), Sage Thrasher (2), European Starling (35)
WAXWINGS, PIPITS: Cedar Waxwing (10)
WARBLERS, CHATS: Nashville Warbler (2), MacGillivray’s Warbler (1), Common Yellowthroat (1), Yellow Warbler (5), Wilson’s Warbler (1), Yellow-breasted Chat (5)
LONGSPURS, SPARROWS: Spotted Towhee (2), Song Sparrow (3), Brewer’s Sparrow (3), Vesper Sparrow (2), Savannah Sparrow (1), White-crowned Sparrow (1), Dark-eyed Junco (2)
TANAGERS, GROSBEAKS: Western Tanager (1), Black-headed Grosbeak (8), Lazuli Bunting (4)
BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES: Red-winged Blackbird (2), Western Meadowlark (14), Yellow-headed Blackbird (1), Brewer’s Blackbird (16), Brown-headed Cowbird (2), Bullock’s Oriole (2)
FINCHES, WEAVER FINCH: Purple Finch (2), House Finch (8), American Goldfinch (4), House Sparrow (2)