Sunny Walter's Washington Nature Weekends

Inland Northwest Bird Sightings - Fall Migration

Sightings on this page are extracted from the Inland Northwest Bird Sightings.
This list is to help casual birders find out where they can reliably see birds

so most rare bird sightings are omitted.

(Note: Items in red are of special interest to Sunny.
As a photographer I'm partial to large birds or large flocks of small birds)

Sunny's Selections from Recent Inland NW Bird Sightings:
July thru October

July

7/10/03

Nesting GREAT EGRETS can be viewed on an island in the Columbia River from Sagemoor Road north of Pasco.

Jim & Annet Dittmer

7/24/03
Mann Lake

Christine and I went down to see what was happening at Mann Lake this evening. The lake is probably the lowest I have ever seen it. There is a lot of mud and there was a lot of shore birds at the lake many Lesser Yellowlegs, Western Sandpipers, Killdeer, and canada Geese; 1 Wilson's Phalarope; Dunlin - one male in breeding plumage; 1 Common Tern; 8 gulls at a distance, 6 Long-billed Dowitcher, Mallard; 1000+ mixed blackbird family; Yellow Warbler; Western Kingbird; Song Sparrow)

At the Genesee Holding Pond yesterday a.m. - 2 American Avocet

Also in the Genesee area for the past week have been 2000 to 3000 Mostly Bank Swallows with a few Cliff Swallows flying near Cow Creek of settled in on power lines along the creek.

7/26/03
Cold Springs NWR, Umatilla Co, NE Oregon.

2 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS tied our record early date - there was a size difference so assume adult pair;
1 adult RED-NECKED PHALAROPE - our first of season;
1 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER - longer bill than the 2 we saw 3 days ago;
1 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER still there;
1,000+ BANK SWALLOWS)

Terry and Christine Gray clgtlg@genesee-id.com

7/26/03
Umatilla NWR, Paterson Slough Unit

WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, 5 AMERICAN AVOCETS, 3 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 6 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, and 10 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES. There were also a FRANKLIN'S GULL and a BONAPARTE'S GULL. The FRANKLIN'S GULL was still present on August 12.

Bill & Nancy LaFramboise Richland, WA wlafra@owt.com

7/26/03
Mann Lake - definitely the time to be there (water is very low)

Several hundred geese and no less than a dozen great blue herons.
In the flock of about 40-50 peeps, there were western, least, and at least one BAIRD'S sandpiper, and two SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS still in alternate plummage. about 20 or so phalaropes are there, at least two were red-necked. mostly lesser but a few greater yellowlegs.
28 avocets - they all flew into a flock and landed in front of me on the west end.
Flushed at least a dozen snipe in that seep area between the main inlet and the model airplane strip, as well as about that many spotted sandpipers.
At the creek closest to the end of the road, 3 dozen killdeer were milling around, in addition to all the killdeer at the lake edge and back at the seep.
No sign of a golden-plover, but there is a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (in addition to the silver gray color, watch for the black axillaries in flight).
Gulls are showing up too.

Jane Westervelt jwesterv@uidaho.edu

7/27/03
Mann Lake - southeast end
13 species of shorebirds

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER - 1 adult (this is the plover that Terry & Christine saw the last few days), adults pretty unusual I would say, more expected are juveniles in October; 2 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER
100 KILLDEER, 25 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 5 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 1 SOLITARY SANDPIPER,
3 SPOTTED SANDPIPER, 2 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, 100+ WESTERN SANDPIPER, 10 LEAST SANDPIPER, 2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, 10 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, 2 WILSON'S PHALAROPE.
Also some crisp looking juvenile CALIFORNIA GULLS amongst other age birds
Summer plumage ducks identified included N. SHOVELER, A. WIGEON, N. PINTAIL, RING-NECKED DUCK

Charles E. Swift Moscow, Idaho charless@moscow.com

7/27/03
Mann Lake Add-on

Steptoe Canyon (Whitman Co.) - early morning, covey of 20 Chukars (adults with a large number of juveniles). Several more adults calling while caling the steep canyon bank.
Steptoe Canyon drive: several Mule Deer on rocky ledge. A dark cottontail Rabbit west of Colton appeared to be an eastern Cottontail. In addition, we had two Coyotes along the 195 corridor and White-Tailed Deer around Mann Lake.
We encountered a family of at least 10 Ring-Necked Pheasants near the junction of Reservation Line Road and Beaver Road. Near Lapwai on Bever Grade Road, we saw Lazuli Buntings, Catbird, BH Grosbeaks, Cedar
On the Coyote Grade, there was over a thousand Bank Swallows in their terraced clay and sand bank colony.
Palouse - along Marsh Road out of Latah, WA, we observed thousands of Cliff Swallows (w/some Bank Swallows) covering power lines and the surface of the road. This was a rather amazing spectacle.

Gina Sheridan Spokane, WA

Sunny's Selections from Recent Inland NW Bird Sightings

August

8/3/03
Potholes Reservoir - Perch Point gravel pit

RUDDY TURNSTONE was observed and photographed between 4:45 and 4:55 PM at the Shortly after bathing in a small pond the bird began to feed. While feeding, the bird walked over a large sand dune toward the main lake and disappeared.
Other highlights (2 Semipalmated Sandpiper, 26 Western Sandpiper, 7 Long-billed Dowitcher, 9 Wilson's Phalarope, 6 Least Sandpiper, 4 Black-necked Stilt)

Doug Schonewald Moses Lake, WA

(Perch Point directions [Dave Beaudette]:
Rd M SE runs between WA 17 and WA 262. From Rd M SE, go west on Rd 6 SE for 3 miles. At the intersection with J.2 SE you have 0.2 mile to go. Rd 6 SE goes up a steep hill and turns sharply to the right amongst a village of trailer houses. Turn sharply left on the dirt road heading south (towards Potholes Reservoir) immediately after cresting the hill. The shorebird area is in the backwater on the left as you go down the hill.)

8/3/03
Potholes Reservoir - Grant County

Perch Point: Ruddy Turnstone adult in breeding plumage, Wilson's Phalarope - molting adult, ~100 Western Sandpiper - almost all juvs, 6 Least Sandpiper, 6 Semipalmated Sandpiper, 1 Baird's Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Sandpiper, 10 Killdeer, 3 adult Semipalmated Plover, 4 Greater Yellowlegs, 6 adult Long-billed Dowitcher, 2 Spotted Sandpiper.

East Beach at Soap Lake: 10 American Avocet, 1 Black-necked Stilt, 5 Western Sandpiper, 1 molting adult Sanderling, 13 adult Long-billed Dowitcher.

(This spot is on the east shore of Soap Lake opposite milepost 76 on WA 17. No sign saying East Beach but that is what the city calls it.
Restrooms!!)

Dave Beaudette Wenatchee,WA drtbrdr@earthlink.net

8/15/03
Cold Springs NWR, Umatilla Co, NE Oregon

Sandpipers: 3 Bairds, 1 Solitary, 500 Western, 50 Least, 2 juv Semipalmated,
5 Spotted
2 Semi Plovers
300 Killdeer
4 Black-necked Stilts
2 Long-billed Dowichers
Zero yellowlegs.

The mudflats of the reservoir are becoming extensive. We covered less than 10% in two hours.
CraigC 2cbird@charter.net

8/17/03
Grant County Jaeger and Shorebirds

Bird of the day: PARASITIC JAEGER found on Potholes Reservoir - approximately 200 yards offshore from the dam face, slightly west and north of the outlet spillway.

Quincy STP: shorebird numbers quite low
(5 Spotted Sandpiper, 1 Western Sandpiper,
4 Red-necked Phalarope)

Babcock Ridge Lake (~2.5 miles west of Quincy on the north side of WA-28 (see Delorme pg 68, B-.6 & 1.1). Shorebirds here in good numbers (15 Killdeer, 9 Black-necked Stilt, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, 3 Lesser Yellowlegs, 3 Solitary Sandpiper, 4 Least Sandpiper, 18 Western Sandpiper, 1 Baird's Sandpiper, 7 Long-billed Dowitcher, 3 Wilson's Snipe, 1 Sora)

Soap Lake: shorebirds in good numbers.
We birded East Beach, West Beach, a new area found at the end of Lakeshore Drive (northwest corner of Soap Lake), and the north end of Soap Lake at WA-17, MP 78.

East Beach (2 Black-necked Stilt, 8 American Avocet, 2 Sanderlings, 2 Least Sandpiper, 70 Western Sandpiper, 1 Bonaparte's Gull)
West Beach (100+ Red-necked Phalarope)
Lakeshore Drive (2 Killdeer, 1 Least Sandpiper, 7 Wilson's Phalarope,
40 Red-necked Phalarope)

Potholes Reservoir - Perch Point: shorebirds in good numbers
(1 Semipalmated Plover, 30+ Killdeer, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, 3 Spotted Sandpiper, 6 Least Sandpiper, 100+ Western Sandpiper, 1 juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper, 3 Baird's Sandpiper, 12 Long-billed Dowitcher, 1 Wilson's Snipe)

Lind Coulee: water is still high, but shorebirds were present in both number and diversity
(1 Semipalmated Plover, 9 Greater Yellowlegs, 4 Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 Spotted Sandpiper,
12 Least Sandpiper, 240 Western Sandpiper, 4 Baird's Sandpiper, 7 Long-billed Dowitcher,
2 Wilson's Snipe)

Other birds noted during the day:
2 Greater Yellowlegs on Migraine Lake (below Soda Lake Dam, Delorme Pg. 53, A-.5 & 6.6),
8 Black-necked Stilt at Birders Corner (Intersection of Dodson Rd. & Frenchman Hills Road).

Doug Schonewald Moses Lake, WA dschone8@bentonrea.com

8/21/03
Yakima Delta

Terrific numbers of shorebirds when the water is low. On August 21, many of the common shorebirds were present. 1 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER was the notable bird. For the next month or two it may be hard to decide where to bird!

Bill & Nancy LaFramboise Richland, WA wlafra@owt.com

8/23/03
Walla Walla River Delta, Walla Walla County

17 American White Pelican
1 Bonapartes Gull, 4 Common Tern, 1 Black Tern [Note: seldom seen in WW Co. save during the fall passage], 9 Caspian Tern
3 Semipalmated Plover, 56 Western Sandpiper, 5 Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 Greater Yellowlegs
1 Western Tanager, 2 Bewicks Wren

Mike Denny m.denny@charter.net

8/24/03
Soap Lake - East Beach

All three phalaropes!!!! Many Red-necked out on the lake, three Wilson's along the shoreline and a beautiful fresh juvenile Red Phalarope with Western Sandpipers on the Beach. Over 500 Western Sandpipers present.

Dave Beaudette Wenatchee, WA drtbrdr@earthlink.net

8/25/03
Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Whitman, and Adams Counties

Eared Grebe: 40 at Sheep Lake, WH Co; 60+ at the Reardan "ponds", LI Co; 7 at Sprague Lake, AD
Clark's Grebe: 2 birds amongst a large scattered flock of 74 Western Grebes
Am.White Pelican: 64 at Sprague Lake, AD-LI Co (with 48+ Double-crested Cormorants);
5 at Sheep Lake,WH Co;
Bufflehead: 5 at the Reardan"ponds", LI Co;
Gray Partridge: 10 along S.R.231 at MP 12 (north of Edwall, LI Co)
Am. Avocet: 5 at Crooked Knee Lake, WH Co
Red-necked Phalarope: 48 at Crooked Knee Lake,WH Co; 12 at the Reardan"ponds", LI Co;
15 at Sprague Lake, AD Co
Spotted, Western, Least and Baird's Sandpipers at: Sheep Lake,WH Co; Crooked Knee Lake,WH Co; Reardan "ponds", LI Co, Sprague Lake, AD Co
Bank Swallow: 950+ at Sprague Lake, AD-LI Co (large groups resting along the road, along fence lines, and foraging over Sprague Lake)

We really enjoyed our visit again to Bunchgrass Meadows, which hosted a good assortment of bird species in addition to a few notable dragonfly species that are noted at this isolated location. The northeast corner access of Bunchgrass Meadows will be close to motorized vehicles as of 2004, which a sign is posted at the intersection of FR 1935 and 050, but there is an access at the southeast corner of the meadow,which we accessed and walked the entire perimeter of the meadow. Dragonfly specialties encountered include the following:

Delicate Emerald and Mountain Emerald at Bunchgrass Meadows, PO
Sweetflag Spreadwing at Frater Lake, PO
Zigzag Darner at Bunchgrass Meadows, PO
Paddle-tailed Darner at Frater Lake, PO
Lake Darner at Frater Lake, PO
Variable Darner at Frater Lake, PO

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan godwit@worldnet.att.net

8/25/03
West Plains & NW Whitman Co.

On Saturday, Garrett MacDonald and I birded some of the shorebird spots and migrant traps of the West
Plains and Channeled Scablands of Lincoln, Adams, and Whitman Counties.

Reardon Marsh.

A typical chorus of Marsh Wrens immediately greeted us.
Flocks of Yellow-Headed & Redwing Blackbirds were hanging out in the tules.
A Merlin streaked down and landed behind the cattails.
Greater & Lesser Yellowlegs, several vocal Solitary Sandpipers, Least Sandpiper, and Spotted Sandpiper were on the west side of the road.
While numerous eclipse plumaged ducks dabbled on the on the east side of the marsh, a Double-Crested Cormorant flew over.

Davenport Cemetery

We encountered an Olive-sided Flycatcher, Pac-Slope Flycatchers, W. Wood Pewee, 20+ Townsend's Warblers, 3 Nashville Warblers, 1 Orange-crowned Warbler, 4 Wilson's Warblers, 3 Yellow-Rumped Warblers, Golden-Crowned Kinglets, RB Nuts, Chipping & Savannah Sparrows, and Barn & Bank Swallows.

Swanson Lakes

Sizeable flocks of shorebirds that included some 150 Western Sandpipers, a few Least Sandpipers, a couple of dozen Baird's Sandpipers, both species of Yellowlegs, Wilson's Phalaropes, and 100+ Red-necked Phalaropes.
At one point, a Prairie Falcon scattered the shorebirds. A second Prairie Falcon was perched on a pole along Schuster Road. Several Swainson's Hawks, RT Hawk, No. Harrier, and quite a few Kestrels were all in the vicinity.

We decided to try for more shorebirds in the lakes of northwestern Whitman Co.

Sheep Lake

Greater Yellowlegs, W. Sandpipers, and 7 juvenile STILT SANDPIPERs, Eared Grebe, Bank & Barn & Rough-winged Swallows.
The rank vegetation along the track (Hardy Road on DL) held C. Yellowthroats, 12 Gray Partridges, Song & Savannah Sparrows, and Eastern Kingbird.

Crooked Knee Lake

Western portion was loaded with Red-necked Phalaropes, 3 LB Dowitchers, 1 Stilt Sandpiper, and a plethora of Western Sandpipers. While a couple dozen Nighthawks glided silently overhead, we spied a Sora scurrying from the shoreline into the tules.

On the return leg, we saw a plethora of Mule Deer and a covey of Gray Partridge that seemed intent on
roosting in the road.

Gina Sheridan Spokane, WA

8/25/03
Census Count: Cold Springs National Wildlife Refuge, Umatilla

Highlights below:

100 White Pelican
4 Semipalmated Plover, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper
2 Black-necked Stilt
500 Western Sandpiper, 75 Least Sandpiper
1 Short-billed Dowitcher, 9 Long-billed Dowitcher
30 Bank Swallow, 1 Nashville Warbler

CraigC 2cbird@charter.net

8/27/03
Cold Springs National Wildlife Refuge,
Umatilla County, Oregon

Highlight was a Merlin making passes at the peeps.
Other highlights:

35 Western Grebe, 1 Clark's Grebe
95 American White Pelican
3 Semipalmated Plover, 2 Black-necked Stilt
1 Semipalmated Sandpiper, 500 Western Sandpiper, 75 Least Sandpiper, 2 Baird's Sandpiper, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 35 Red-necked Phalarope

CraigC 2cbird@charter.net

Northern Idaho / Eastern Washington / Northeastern Oregon bird hotline
Palouse Audubon
Looking for MOUNTAIN QUAIL?
Mike and MerryLynn Denny have been seeing lots of them at the west end of The North Fork John Day River Road in Grant Co, OR. On 26 Aug they saw 56 birds, 22 in lower Potamus Creek Canyon, Morrow Co and 34 more along the river road in Grant Co.

Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society Bird Alert
The Yakima Delta was quite productive on August 29. Bill & Nancy LaFramboise found 4 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, 6 AMERICAN AVOCETS, 1 SOLITARY SANDPIPER, 4 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, 12 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 2 WILSON'S SNIPE, 12 RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, and the usual Western and Least Sandpipers, Killdeer, and both yellowlegs. 2 VIRGINIA RAILS and 1 SORA were also seen. Later that day, Bob Woodley relocated many of the shorebirds as well as an additional STILT SANDPIPER.

Sunny's Selections from Recent Inland NW Bird Sightings

September

9/2/03
Steve Moldinow, Doug Schonewald and I covered several areas in Eastern Washington on Sunday and Monday. Here are highlights.

Wahluke, Hanford N.M., Franklin Co

15 Yellow-rumped Warbler, 9 Orange-crowned Warbler, 5 Yellow Warbler, 20 Western Tanager, 5 McGillivray's Warbler, 3 Wilson's Warbler, 1 Bullock's Oriole, 12 Warbling Vireo, 10 Townsend's Warbler, 1 Dusky Flycatcher, 2 Cassin's Vireo, 2 Hammond's Flycatcher, 1 Western Wood-pewee, 1 Least Flycatcher, 1 Cliff Swallow

McCain's Potato Ponds, Adams Co.

101 Lesser Yellowlegs, 36 Baird's Sandpiper, 21 Greater Yellowlegs, 100 Western Sandpiper, 14 Long-billed Dowitcher, 6 Red-necked Phalarope, 1 Wilson's Phalarope, 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper, 2 Solitary Sandpiper, 6 Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 Peregrine Falcon

Lind Coulee, Potholes Res., Grant Co.

3 Baird's Sandpiper, 147 Western Sandpiper, 4 Short-billed dowitcher, 17 Red-necked Phalarope, 1 Semi-palmated Plover, 5 Pectoral Sandpiper, 6 Long-billed Dowitcher, 7 Lesser Yellowlegs,

Palouse Falls, Franklin Co

17 Wilson's Warbler, 12 Warbling Vireo, 3 Western Wood-pewee, 2 Swainson's Thrush, 5 Hammond's Flycatcher, 2 Dusky Flycatcher, 1 Pacific-sloped Flycather, 2 Olive-sided Flycatcher, 1 Western Tanager, 1 Yellow Warbler, 1 Lincoln's Sparrow, 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler

Lyon's Ferry Park, Franklin Co

20 Yellow-rumped Warbler, 10 Wilson's Warbler, 1 Common Yellowthroat, 5 Western Tanager, 4 Western Wood-pewee, 4 Yellow Warbler, 19 Warbling Vireo, 4 Orange-crowned Warbler, 3 Dusky Flycatcher, 1 Hammond's Flycatcher, 2 Willow Flycathcer, 1 Red-eyed Vireo, 1 Pacific-sloped Flycather, 19 McGillivray's Warbler, 5 Chipping Sparrow, 4 Lincoln's Sparrow, 1 Nashville Warbler, 1 Hermit Thrush.

Sprague Lake, Adams Co

12 Bonaparte's Gul, 41 Common Tern, 17 Baird's Sandpiper, 4 Werstern Sandpiper, 1 Least Sandpiper, 2 Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 Franklin's Gull, 3 Black Tern

Bob Flores Othello, WA

9/3/03
Cold Springs NWR, Umatilla County

A MARBLED GODWIT was our best bird of the year
30 Bairds & 30 Pectoral Sandpipers were highs for the season.
Other highlights

80 American White Pelican
1 Semipalmated Plover
3 Greater Yellowlegs, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 Spotted Sandpiper, 8 Red-necked Phalarope
1 Common Nighthawk

CraigC Hermiston OR 2cbird@charter.net3

9/6/03
Two Rivers County Park
Birding this morning along the corps dike in Two Rivers County Park (See DeLorme page 39, 8-C & site guide published in Washington Birder Vol. 6, No.1) I encountered a nice selection of migrating warblers including lots of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS and lesser numbers of YELLOW WARBLERS, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS & MacGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS. Also found a couple of WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS - have been hearing them around since the beginning of the week but hadn't had time to look for them until now. At the far northwest corner of the park I scanned the BPA powerline tower and discovered an adult PEREGRINE FALCON.

Dennis Rockwell Kennewick, WA dennis.rockwell@gte.net

9/13/03
Wenatchee Confluence State Park

3 Pied-billed Grebe, 1 Clark's Grebe, 3 Great Blue Heron, 3 Great Egret
35 Canada Goose, 6 Green-winged Teal, 8 Mallard, 30 American Wigeon, 85+ Common Merganser
Ring-necked Pheasant h/o, 6 California Quail, 15 American Coot, 26 Killdeer
1 Solitary Sandpiper, 2 Least Sandpiper, 1 juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 Wilson's Snipe
40 Ring-billed Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 10 Rock Dove, 8 Mourning Dove
25 Vaux's Swift, 2 Belted Kingfisher, 5 Downy Woodpecker, 2 Common Flicker
2 American Crow, 17 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 9 American Robin,
2 Gray Catbird, 3 American Pipit on lawn of Walla Walla Point Park
Cedar Waxwing h/o, 250+/- European Starling
1 Orange-crowned Warbler, 1 Nashville Warbler, 6 Yellow Warbler, 85 +/- Yellow-rumped Warbler,
1 Wilson's Warbler
1 Savannah Sparrow (rare in Chelan County), 1 Fox Sparrow (Slate-colored) , 3 Song Sparrow,
65 +/- White-crowned Sparrow, 50 +/- House Sparrow
3 Red-winged Blackbird, 15 Brewer's Blackbird, 9 House Finch, 8 American Goldfinch

Dan Stephens

9/13-14/03
The Central Basin Audubon (Moses Lake) had a full weekend of field trips this past weekend.

9/13 -- 63 species

Palouse Falls State Park -- Many migrants
Highlights:.
Fox sparrow - One Very nice 'Slate-colored' race well observed by all. Great county bird.
Goldern-crowned Sparrow - One juvenile bird with a group of white-crowns.
White-throated Swift - Three birds working around the park area. These seem fairly late.
Hermit Thrush - Two birds drinking from the sprinkler spigots. Great looks
Cassin's Vireo - Four birds foraging in the treetops
Hammond' Flycatcher - Several hawking insects. Another decent county bird.
Red-naped Sapsucker
Sharp-shinned Hawk - Not unusual except there were at least two birds working the park and at times it seemed there might have been three.

Washtucna, Bassett Park -- Many migrants
Highlights:
Townsend's Solitaire - 2
Cassin's Vireo - One
Warbling Vireo - several
Gray Flycatcher - One showing the classic tail drop behavior
Lincoln Sparrow - Three or four
Sharp-shinned Hawk - One chasing prey and succeeding.
Cooper's Hawk - One perched on the playground swing set.
House Wren - One south of the park in the briars
Bewick's Wren - One in the Russian-olives.
Fox Sparrow - One that showed as well as at Palouse Falls. located in the briars south of the park.

9/14 -- Grant County Shorebirds -- 72 species
Sunday (9/14) found us touring Grant county for shorebirds. Our stops included Soap Lake (several locations), Lind Coulee, Blythe WDFW Access (west of Mar Don resort off of SR-262), Several locations along Dodson Road, and the Crab Creek Overlook in the North Potholes Wildlife Management Area. While we were looking for shorebirds, we had some very nice birds at several locations. Some were shorebirds and others were not. Here are the highlights.

Soap Lake (East Beach)
Sanderling - Two with a large group of westerns.
American Avocet - One still hanging on
Common Tern - One on the beach offering really good views.
Sabine's Gull - Two juveniles.
Pectoral Sandpiper - 7
Baird's Sandpiper - 8

Soap Lake (West Beach)
Red-necked Phalarope - 140+ working the shoreline very close for fantastic study.

Soap Lake (North End)
Bonaparte's Gull - 3
Eared Grebe - Many and the numbers are building

Lind Coulee
American White Pelican - 83 and we thought this was a good number at the time.
Common Tern
Greater White-Fronted Goose - Two with a large group of Canada Geese.

Dodson Road (several locations)
Greater White-fronted Goose - A flock of 16 at the Winchester Wasteway crossing

Crab Creek Overlook
American White Pelican - A conservative estimate of 250+. They were feeding in several large flocks and moving around so much it was almost impossible to count them.
Great Egret - 50+ working the perimeter of the feeding pelicans.

Doug Schonewald Moses Lake, WA dschone8@bentonrea.com

9/13/03
Washington Ornithological Society Trip -- Vantage to Wenatchee

Many good birds were observed on the WOS trip today, though nothing rare. We met in Ellensburg where we started off with a close encounter of the Sharpie kind, an adult Sharp-shinned hawk flew about 20 feet in front of us to try and nab a house sparrow but missed. We then headed to Vantage where notable birds included 11 Great Egrets and good numbers of American Pipits and Yellow-rumped Warblers.
By location:

Wanapum Dam Area:
30 American Pelican, 6 Great Egret (5 on islands, 1 in Getty Cove), 6 Chukar, 1 Spotted Sandpiper,
Many American Pipit and Yellow-rumped Warbler along road in shrub-steppe (30+ of each)

Horse Farm:
5 Great Egret, 1 Yellow Warbler, 1 Says Phoebe, 1 Long-billed Dowitcher, 1 Greater Yellowlegs,
2 Eared Grebe

Wenatchee Confluence P / Horan Area, we hit it about 12:00, and saw many of the same birds Dan Stephens did but some different.
1 Pectoral Sandpiper (juv), 4 Western Sandpiper (did not see any of the expected least sandpipers)
1 Great Egret, 1 Nashville Warbler, 3 Orange-crowned Warbler,
35-40 Yellow-rumped Warbler, all seen were Audubons
2 Savanna Sparrow, 1 Gray Catbird h/o, 1 Eared Grebe, 2 Turkey Vulture

Blewett Pass/Table Mountain:
Migrating raptors included: 2 Red-tailed Hawk, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 American Kestrel,
1 Northern Harrier, 3 Turkey Vulture
4 Hermit Thrush, 10-15 White-crowned Sparrow, 4 Savanna Sparrow,
25 Wild Turkey about 1 mile south of Lion Rock campground on FS 35.

For the day 78 species.
Scott Downes Yakima, WA downess@cwu.edu

9/13/03
Mann Lake
Seven of us met at Mann Lake this morning. Carole reports a great improvement in numbers & diversity of birds since last week presumably due to the week's cold fronts. Shorebird habitat is poor but we had a nice diversity overall as follows:

1 Common Loon, 1 Western Grebe, 2 Pied-billed Grebe, Horned Grebe 1 (probably 2, second bird in transitional plumage), 3 White Pelican, 2 Double-crested Cormorant, 1 Great Blue Heron 1 (no egrets!)

1 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE,
~500 Canadas,somewhat unexpected but they are early fall migrants,
most of expected puddle ducks - gw teal, mallard, pintail, wigeon, shoveler, etc.
~25 Ring-necked Ducks, 1 Common Merganser, 5 Rudy Duck

2 juv. AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, 10 Killdeer, 8 Baird's Sandpiper, 1 Least Sandpiper
(** shorebird habitat is poor at the moment as much of the exposed shoreline has gotten weedy)

Northern Harrier (2 nice, buffy juv. together), 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 Cooper's Hawk,
5 Red-tailed Hawk (inc. nice, crisp juv.), 2 Osprey (sitting near each other on power pole, one gave us a great show by plunge diving and catchin trout within 100' of us),
1 PRAIRIE FALCON, 1 American Kestrel
(** many of the raptors were toward the south east end of the lake)

Swallows: lots of Barn & Violet-green, also a group of Cliff Swallows and a few Vaux's Swifts

Migrants passerines: lots of migrants in the shoreline willows esp. Yellow-rumps & sparrows as follows:
American Pipits: ~50 (really seem to like the grassy & recently plowed shoreline areas, kicked up 1 flock of ~20 birds in grass)
Bewick's Wren (not migrant but not often seen at Mann Lake despite being common elsewhere in the L-C Valley
Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Savannah Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow

Other: Belted Kingfisher, Brewer's Blackbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, American Goldfinch

Charles E. Swift Moscow, Idaho charless@moscow.com

9/16/03
Evening at Lind Coulee

I hoped the high winds and dropping temperatures blew in a few birds today. I ran down to Lind Coulee this evening to check and I wasn't disappointed. While the diversity was not there, the quality of birds and their numbers were good. In addition they offered great views at close range. Here is what was there as of 6:00 PM.

16 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, 4 Sanderling (a really good number for the basin),
49 Western Sandpiper, 17 Pectoral Sandpiper, 51 Long-billed Dowitcher, 3 Stilt Sandpiper,
8 Wilson's Snipe

Doug Schonewald Moses Lake, WA dschone8@donobi.net

9/1703
Cold Springs National Wildlife Refuge, Umatilla County, Oregon

2 Stilt Sandpipers were by far best birds.
800 Killdeer (impressive)
1 American Avocet, 1 Greater Yellowlegs, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 Sanderling (1st for season), 50 Western Sandpiper, 30 Least Sandpiper, 18 Pectoral Sandpiper, 2 Stilt Sandpiper, 1 Short-billed Dowitcher, 13 Long-billed Dowitcher, 30 Red-necked Phalarope

Craig&JudyC 2cbird@charter.net

9/17/03
Cold Springs NWR in Umatilla Co, OR

Craig and Judy Corder report 800 KILLDEER. Also there was a single SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER and a good variety of other shorebirds.

9/17/03
27 St Parking Lot area on the Loop Trail near East Wenatchee.

Sabine's Gull...the juv, found yesterday a little south of here, seen flying back and forth on the river, right out from the parking lot; 1 adult Bonaparte's Gull
Whimbrel...one juv feeding along the shoreline about .25 mile north of the parking lot.
1 Yellow Warbler, 50+ Yellow-rumped Warbler
4 Forster's Tern, 10+ Common Tern
Parastic Jaeger...one light adult chasing terns and Ring-billed Gulls.

Dave Beaudette Wenatchee,WA drtbrdr@earthlink.net

9/18/03
Grant County, SR 17, and US 2.

Babcock Ridge Lake [a few miles west of Quincy on SR 28]
1 Red-necked Phalarope, 10 Western Sandpiper, 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs,
6 Long-billed Dowitcher, 17 Pectoral Sandpiper, 2 Common Snipe, 2 Virginia Rail, 1 Sora

Soap Lake, East Beach
1 juv Sanderling, 15 juv Baird's Sandpiper, 10 juv Western Sandpiper, 3 muv Sabine's Gull

Soap Lake,West Beach
42 Red-necked Phalarope, 1 American Avocet.

Alkali Lake, SR 17
2 Great Egret. at the south end

Blue Lake, SR 17
17 Common Loon

Sun Lakes State Park, SR 17, riparian along Meadow Creek
Cassin's Vireo...one with 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglets and an Orange-crowned Warbler, 1 Western Wood-Pewee, 2 Lincoln's Sparrow

Department of Wildlife campground at the SW corner of Banks Lake
29 White Pelican on two small islands to the east.

US 2 at Atkins Lake[dry],Douglas County
Sandhill Crane ..a flock of 9 over the highway.

Dave Beaudette Wenatchee,WA drtbrdr@earthlink.net

9/19/03
Chamna Preserve in Richland.

12 TURKEY VULTURES over the preserve
Ruth Fischer

9/20/03
Grant County

A short morning of birding around Grant County, WA proved to be quite rewarding. While last evenings wind seemed to blow some birds out, others took their place. The following highlights were noted.

Potholes State Park:
SABINE'S GULL - One juvenile, behaving like a shorebird picking insects off the beach.
SANDERLING - 17 A good bird and unusually large numbers. These birds were in two groups about 100 yards apart on the beach right in the park.

Lind Coulee:
26 Pectoral Sandpiper, 169 Long-billed Dowitcher, 1 Osprey

Moses Lake Community Park:
2 Bewick's Wren, 15 Sandhill Crane (a flyby at quite close range), 4 Lincoln's Sparrow, 1 Swainson's Hawk

Doug Schonewald Moses Lake, WA

9/21/03
Douglas County Shoreline of the Columbia River from Brewster to Chief Joseph Dam

Great Egret...on my way up one of these was seen along the Columbia at the mouth of the Methow River. Okanogan County. Only one seen up here today.

Sabine's Gull...three juvs seen very well from a pullout on SR 173 at MP 10.2 This about .4 mile east of the south end of the Columbia River bridge at Brewster. Several pullouts in this stretch are very good forbirds....Common Loons, White Pelicans, mucho waterfowl, etc.

Sandhill Crane... a flock of 8 overhead and moving south, behind Chief Joseph Dam. From SR 17 at Bridgeport go east on Pearl Hill Rd to Fisher Rd, then on Fisher to picnic area.

Broad-winged Hawk...About a minute after the Sandhills, the Broad- winged Hawk was spotted moving south, overhead on the same path in the sky. An immature bird.

Dave Beaudette Wenatchee,WA drtbrdr@earthlink.net

9/23/03
North Richland
At least 200 SANDHILL CRANE over his yard
Bob Woodley

9/26/03
Ringold
50 sandhill crane
Bob Wilson

9/25/03
Cold Springs NWR, Umatilla County, Oregon
There is easily 50 acres of new mud since last week. Water withdrawals have just stopped. Well over 300 acres of mud total. Highlights:

500 American White Pelican !!!!!! highest ever.
4 Sandhill Crane (first of season)
3 Black-bellied Plover (first of season)
850 Killdeer (a complete census would probably yield 2,000)
3 Greater Yellowlegs, 10 Western Sandpiper, 15 Least Sandpiper, 1 Baird's Sandpiper,
1 Semipalmated Sandpiper ( I don't think it can fly. Wing ajar. Probably the one hit by a Merlin a few weeks ago.), 35 Pectoral Sandpiper (all in one area - SE corner)
100 Long-billed Dowitcher (high count so far this year)
1 Barn Swallow, 1 American Pipit

CraigC 2cbird@charter.net

9/26/03
Lind Coulee, Grant Co and note on McCain's Potato Ponds, Adams Co

Lind coulee had a few birds today as follows. McCain's is being held high with NO shorebird habitat. I will keep an eye on it to see if it will be lowered. Sighting are from this afternoon.

347 long-billed dowitcher, 5 sandhill crane (flying over), 27 pectoral sandpiper, 25 Baird's sandpiper, 4 stilt sandpiper, 20 western sandpiper, 1 least sandpiper, 5 lesser yellowlegs, 2 greater yellowlegs

Bob Flores Othello, WA rflores@cbnn.net

9/26/03
Below McNary Dam, Columbia River, Umatilla Co, OR
30 COMMON TERNS
CraigC

Late September
Lower Columbia Basin
Large flocks of SANDHILL CRANE continue to pass over.
Mary Lilga noted 400 over Prosser on September 26.

9/27/03
Walla Walla County
Sharp-taiiled Sandpiper + more
Our day started off at 10 A.M. due to prolonged owling last night/this morning.

The first stop was at the corner of McDonold and Detour Rd. west of Walla Walla south off HWY 12. Here we located 14 Pectoral Sandpipers, 1 Black-bellied Plover, 9 Greater Yellowlegs, 52 Long-billed Dowitchers, 19 Killdeer and a lone BRIGHT PLUMAGED sub-adult SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER! Also 15 Wilsons Snipe and 4 Sandhill Cranes were in this flooded pasture.

Out on the Walla Walla River delta we observed the following species:
7 Great Egrets.........most we have ever seen there.
1 Franklins Gull........sub-adult bird
71 Long-billed Dowitchers......average numbers
2 Bonapartes Gulls
2 Caspian Terns.......1 adult & 1 sub-adult, a bit late.
2 Common Terns
1 Osprey
5 Western Sandpipers

At Hood Park:
6 Orange-crowned Warblers
425 Yellow-rumped Warblers
1 partial albino Yellow-rumped Warbler

Mike Denny College Place, WA m.denny@charter.net

9/28/03
This is a short term wet site and well worth a visit soon! Remember this site is at the corner of McDonald and Detour west of Walla Walla and just east of Lowden south of HWY 12.

This morning while out looking the flooded pasture over to see if the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper was still with us MerryLynn and I saw the following species:

1 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
1 Black-bellied Plover, 9 Pectoral Sandpiper, 46 Long-billed Dowitchers
22 Killdeer, 21 Wilsons Snipe
3 Great Blue Heron, 1 Great Egret, 4 Sandhill Cranes
5 Greater Yellowlegs, 3 Lesser Yellowlegs
1 Northern Harrier, 1 Ferruginous Hawk
45 American Pipit, 200+ Barn Swallows, 500+ Blackbirds
Assorted ducks.

Mike & MerryLynn Denny College Place, WA m.denny@charter.net

9/30/03
Loop Trail north of East Wenatchee, Douglas County. 27 St Entrance.

150 Yellow-rumped Warblers - about 20 were Myrtle's.
Palm Warbler...one in deciduous brush near Yellow-rumped warblers.
4 Orange-crowned Warbler - including both gray-headed and coastal types.

Dave Beaudette Wenatchee,WA drtbrdr@earthlink.net

Sunny's Selections from Recent Inland NW Bird Sightings

October

10/1-2/03
Yakima Delta
Shorebirds here have been numerous and diverse. The highlight has been:

AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER sighted by Bob Woodley on October 1.
Other shorebirds seen included Semipalmated Plover, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs; Spotted, Pectoral, Semipalmated, Western, Least and Spotted Sandpipers, Wilson's Snipe, and Long-billed Dowitchers.
Nancy LaFramboise found a late SOLITARY SANDPIPER at the delta on October 2.

10/2/03
Snake River
Chris and Fred Simonen saw an astounding 13 SURF SCOTERS along the Snake River north of Fishhook. Does this mean another sea duck invasion year?

10/4/03
Snow Lake, Boundary County, Idaho

We were hopeful that we could find Caribou and Hawk Owl that had been seen there in years past. Along the first half mile of the trail, we encountered a family of noisy Ruffed Grouse, Black-capped, Chestnut-backed, and Mountain Chickadees, Ruby Crowned & Golden Crowned Kinglets, Juncos, Gray Jay, Clark's Nutcracker, Stellar Jay, Hermit Thrush, Varied Thrush, and Brown Creeper.

Near a small creek crossing, a pair of Spruce Grouse perched motionless a yellowish larch tree. The male and female grouse were somewhat conspicuous within the translucent foliage of the larch.

It was a four mile hike to the lake itself. The last half mile is a steep ascent up a terminal morraine. Snow Lake in nestled in a old cirque and is surrounded by mountainsides cloaked in golden colored larch, orange tinted Mt. Ash, red leaved huckleberries, and forest green Subalpine Fir and Englemann Spruce.

After having lunch on the shore and enjoying the the sunshine that Indian Summer brings, we ventured on to the rockslide on the far side of the lake. In this area, the Chapins had seen Shortail Weasel. Since this was a target mammal on our trip, we set ourselves up to wait for one to show up. As we were now in the shadow of the ridgeline, the air was quite chilly. When Charles hiked back to the other side to retrieve his jacket, he saw a weasel. Unfortunately, by the time we reached his location the animal was gone.

We enjoyed a beautiful fall day in some gorgeous country. Aside from the Shortail Weasel that Charles saw, we saw Porcupine (at my house), Yellow-Pine Chipmunk, River Otter (Lake Pend Oreille), Red Squirrel, and White-tailed Deer.

Gina Sheridan Spokane, WA

10/5/03
Potholes State Park
I spent a few hours at Potholes State Park yesterday.

Late migrants were quite plentiful, with Yellow-rumped Warblers making up the lions share of birds working the trees in the park. Most of the Yellow-rumped were of the Audubon race (about 200 or so), but there were many Myrtle race (15-20) mixed in. The only other warblers observed were several Orange-crowned Warblers, which also gleaned aphids from the foliage.

Red-breasted Nuthatches, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Golden-crowned Kinglets were also gorging on the plentiful aphids.

Northern Flickers were also feeding in the trees with over a dozen observed, including one Yellow-shafted race which posed for one picture before moving into the thick poplars. A Downy Woodpecker also worked the smaller limbs.

Thrushes were also well represented as well. Several Hermit Thrush drank from puddles created by the sprinkler system as well as the seasons first Varied Thrush. American Robins were very plentiful and were gorging on Russian-olives.

The delta at the mouth of Frenchman's Wasteway has grown and the shorebirds have multiplied. The diversity, however, has waned somewhat. Five or six Western Sandpipers remain, along with 14 Long-billed Dowitchers. Over 150 Least Sandpipers are now working the delta. One Semipalmated Plover pecked amongst the sandpipers, as did several Lesser Yellowlegs.

Ring-billed and California Gulls rested on the sand bars, as did a single American White Pelican. Bonaparte's Gulls were again present, with 14 resting among the larger gulls.

Doug Schonewald Moses Lake, WA dschone8@donobi.net

10/6/03
Idaho Herps

We found Coeur D'Alene Salamander along Lake Coeur D'Alene, Rocky Mt. Tailed Frogs (two adult males) and Wandering Garter Snakes in the Cabinet Mts., and Columbian Spotted Frogs and a pair American Pipits on the shore of Moose Lake.
The following weekend, Frank and I escorted a Great Basin Gopher Snake of Regal Road.

Gina Sheridan Spokane, WA

10/20/03
Grand Coulee, Grant County

Our favorite route in the fall is along SR-17 through the Grand Coulee. Since a Black-bellied Plover was recently reported at Soap Lake and a male Surf Scoter reported at Potholes Reservoir we decided to try our luck for both.

We left Moses Lake at 8:00 AM. Waterfowl numbers have increased dramatically and good numbers were noted at all locations for the time of year. However, no scoters were observed during the day.
The following highlights were noted:

Soap Lake (East Beach):

1 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER - This bird was reported last week and may or may not be the same bird.
4 STILT SANDPIPERS - A good number and seems to be a good year for this species. There have been at least two present at this location for several weeks.
300+ Eared Grebe - These were observed along the entire length of the lake and were very plentiful.

Lake Lenore:

Canyon Wren/Rock Wren/ Chukar - Present and calling form the hillsides.
7 Barrow's Goldeneye - Lake Lenore specialty and almost always present here.

Alkali Lake:

16 Canvasback - A nice number this early

Blue Lake:

48 Common Loon - A nice number for the location and a good study in molt patterns
1 PACIFIC LOON - A nice adult bird observed at close range from the rest area.
1 Golden Eagle - A single bird perched on the bluffs above the lake.

Potholes State Park:

26 Bonaparte's Gull - Good numbers at the mouth of Frenchman's Wasteway.
5 Least Sandpiper - The only peeps seen during the entire day.

Doug Schonewald Moses Lake, WA dschone8@donobi.net

10/21/03
Columbia Basin

On a survey flight Tuesday (10/21) I noted 125 Great Egrets still using Potholes Reservoir, and smaller numbers scattered across the north Columbia Basin from Vantage area to Scooteney Reservoir. There were still 80 Sandhill Cranes at one wetland in the St. Andrews area of Douglas County, and Snow Geese in three locations.

Randy Hill Othello

10/22/03
Genesee Holding Pond Birds

This evening at the Genesee Holding Pond we saw the following birds:

1 Western Grebe, 3 Tundra Swan
200+ Canada Goose in field SE of pond
18 Mallard, 1 Northern Shoveler, 4 Lesser Scaup, 15 Bufflehead, 2 Ruddy Duck
19 Bonaparte's Gull.

Terry & Christine

10/24/03
Cold Springs NWR, Umatilla Co, OR

The huge White Pelican flock is down to 25 from 500.
A cougar was chasing a deer though the small willows near the mudflats.

CraigC 2cbird@charter.net

10/25/03
Mann Lake

The following birds were observed:

2 Western Grebe, 7 Double Crested Cormorant, 4 Great Blue Heron
15 Snow Goose, 400+ Canada Goose
4 American Wigeon, 200+ Mallard, 1 Northern Shoveler, 18 Northern Pintail
130 Green-winged Teal, 6 Canvasback, 26 Lesser Scaup
80+ Bufflehead, 12Comon Merganser, 3 Ruddy Duck
1 Rough-legged Hawk, 1 Prairie Falcon
20 American Coot
1 American Golden Plove, 27 Killdeer
2 Western Sandpiper, 7 Long-billed Dowitcher
4 Bonaparte's Gull, 10 Ring-billed Gull, 3 California Gul
30 Rock Dove, 18 Mourning Dove
2 Northern Flicker, 3 Black-blled Magpie
8 Black-capped Chickadee
6 American Robin
3 Song Sparrow, 6 House Finch, 30 House Sparrow

I had taken the back roads to Mann lake this am from Genesee dow Coyote Grade and up Beaver Grade to the lake and saw:

14 Red-tailed Hawk, 1 Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk - 1 at top of Coyote Grade
Ring-billed Gull at Genesee Pond
Many Crow and Raven near Lapwai
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)

Swallow's Park and vicinity:

300 to 400 Gull

Terry and Christine Gray Genesee Idaho (208) 285-1639 clgtlg@genesee-id.com

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