Bennington Lake

We walked the lake today for the first time in two weeks.  It was good to get out there to see what birds were about. The lake is still frozen so there wasn't any waterfowl, but we did see some nice birds including a bald eagle, two great horned owls, several Townsend's solitaires, two northern shrikes, seven bohemian waxwings, two red-tailed hawks and two northern harriers.  Also, on Sunday Nat Drumheller saw a long-eared owl in the trees on the east side.  Ginger

Bennington Lake today

Today the walk was fairly typical for a December morning. Common mergansers, green-winged teals, and mallards dotted the lake.  Several killdeer were on the mud and the great blue heron was at its favorite spot on the beaver dam. A kingfisher guarded the east side of the lake, and there were large flocks of robins and juncos all around the lake.  Song sparrows, chickadees, white-crowned sparrows and Bewick's wrens scurried around in the brush.  Downy woodpeckers worked the small trees and noisy flickers let everyone know they were present. Townsend's solitaires sang to us from the trees, several yellow-rumped warblers darted around in the conifers and a great horned owl watched us with interest on the east side.  On the high trail a northern shrike, a red-tailed hawk and a northern harrier hunted the fields.  There are still plenty of insects in the air, but cold weather is coming later in the week.  It will be interesting to see how the birds react to the cold and snow.

Ginger

Milton-Freewater Raptor Survey

Mike and MerryLynn Denny, Rodger and I, have been participating in the East Cascades Bird Conservancy's Oregon Raptor Survey Project for four years.  We survey our route, which consists of 100 miles of roads around Milton-Freewater, once a month during the winter.  Today we drove our route for the month of December and observed the following birds of prey.

 

Red-tailed hawk - 150

American kestrel - 45

Northern harrier - 4

Rough-legged hawk - 4

Ferruginous hawk - 1

Prairie falcon - 2

Cooper's hawk - 1

Great horned owl - 1

 

Other interesting birds seen on the route were a flock of bohemian waxwings, a flock of horned larks and at least 50 savannah sparrows.  Of the red-tailed hawks, three were Harlan's and several were rufous morph and dark morph.  Usually on Couse Creek Road we find large flocks of wild turkeys, but today there were none.

Bennington Lake Field Trip Results - October 19

Nine people participated in a walk around the lake on this crisp, clear morning.  The fall colors were beautiful and many nice birds were seen by the group.  The highlight of the walk was a flyover of seven tundra swans as we were returning to the parking lot.  They circled twice before heading off in a southerly direction.  We saw a total of 32 species with the highlights being:

    buffleheads

    western grebes

    greater yellowlegs

    fox sparrows

    Townsend's solitaires

    northern shrike

    yellow-rumped warblers

    ruby-crowned kinglets

    cedar waxwings

   

Bennington Lake

There were more winter arrivals at Bennington Lake on Tuesday, October 14.  We saw the first northern shrike of the fall, as well as a Wilson's snipe, three Townsend's solitaires, 37 white-fronted geese and a late common yellowthroat. 

 

Join us on Sunday for the field trip to see what else might be around.

Ginger

Bennington Lake birds

We watched and listened to a large flock of white-fronted geese circle and land on the lake as we were crossing the dam.  They were joined by 15 ring-necked ducks and the usual waterfowl - mallards, wigeons, green-winged teals and pintails.  Two western grebes continue to be present as well.  A turkey vulture circled the lake and red-tailed hawks seemed to be on the move - we saw eight of them.  The only shorebirds seen were five greater yellowlegs, one long-billed dowitcher and three killdeer.  Townsend's solitaires have returned - we saw and heard two of them singing at the north end of the lake.  It was another beautiful fall day - clear, crisp and colorful.

Ginger

Bennington Lake today

Migrants continue to move through.  Today we had several American pipits, a Townsend's warbler, a Lincoln's sparrow several yellow-rumped warblers and three greater yellowlegs. There were good numbers of downy woodpeckers and red-shafted flickers along with one yellow-shafted flicker.  The osprey made a few passes over the water and flew on.  Two western grebes and a ruddy duck joined the usual waterfowl.  About 80 canada geese were eating in the wheat stubble north of the lake and about half of them eventually came down to the lake.  A sharp-shinned hawk and a kestrel had a little altercation before the sharpie flew away.  Ruby-crowned kinglets and black-capped chickadees were busy eating berries.  It was a beautiful walk with fall colors, a crispness in the air and the sounds of birds everywhere.  Ginger

Bennington Lake Sept 16

Interesting birds seen on this week's Tuesday walk were Lincoln's sparrow, white-throated sparrow (both at the south end of the lake) and the first Townsend's solitaire of the fall.

Ginger

Sept. 6 Field Trip Results

Mike and MerryLynn Denny led us on another successful search for fall migrants during our first field trip of the fall. We found them on Detour Road, Byrnes Road, the Walla Walla River Delta, Two Rivers HMU and Hood Park.  The Delta was high so there were no shorebirds, but we were able to see 6 species of gulls and common terns.  We also got a quick look at a parasitic jaeger chasing a gull along the Columbia River.  At Hood Park we watched several very cooperative Nashville warblers and orange-crowned warblers.  On Byrnes Road they found us a clay-colored sparrow.  After the trip ended, our car drove out to McDonald Road where alfalfa seed cutting was in full swing. We watched 30+ Swainson's hawks and several red-tailed hawks soaring all around us in one field.  The Dennys left us and headed for Windust Park where they made their fantastic discovery of the variegated flycatcher.

 

Highlights of the trip:

Franklin's gull - Walla Walla River Delta

Western gull - Walla Walla River Delta

Common terns - Walla Walla River Delta

Parasitic jaeger - Columbia River north of Boise Cascade plant

Red-necked phalaropes - Mile Post 300 on Highway 12

Solitary sandpiper - Mill Post 300 on Highway 12

Greater and lesser yellowlegs - Mill Post 300 on Highway 12

Great egrets - Walla Walla River Delta

Swainson's hawks - Detour Road, McDonald Road

Eurasian collared doves - Touchet, WA

Olive-sided flycatcher - Lowden/Gardena Road, Hood Park

Nashville warblers - Hood Park

Orange-crowned warblers - Hood Park

Clay-colored sparrow - Byrnes Road

NOT Piratic but Variegated

Well the flycatcher at Windust Park has been positively id'd this am and it is in fact a Variegated Flycatcher - only the 2nd or 3rd record for North America - and the first in the Western USA. Get up there if you can for a look at this megararity!!

MerryLynn

 

PIRATIC FLYCATCHER

After our Blue Mountain Audubon Field Trip on Sept. 6 Mike and I headed to Windust Park in Franklin county where I spotted a probable Piratic Flycatcher (from south America!). It may still be there today and lots of folks are headed there to get a look. We first called it a Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher which is from AZ but after studying and reading field guides we changed our minds. Photos have been sent to experts and we are awaiting results. Just never know what you might find when you go birding!!! MerryLynn

 

Bennington Lake today

Migrants are beginning to move through.  We saw Wilson's, orange crowned, yellow-rumped and Nashville warblers.  Swallows over the lake included bank, barn, violet green and rough-winged.  There were also several Vaux's swifts.  Waterfowl numbers were up also - canada geese, mallards, northern shovelers, American wigeons, green winged teal and a western grebe.  Shorebirds are still scarce, but we did see a solitary sandpiper and several killdeer. (There are more shorebirds on the Mill Creek trail - lesser and greater yellowlegs, spotted sandpipers, solitary sandpipers). The white-crowned sparrows are beginning to return - we saw five today.  We also saw a Brewer's sparrow and four spotted towhees.  House finches and goldfinches were everywhere - in the sunflower patches, in the Russian olives, and flitting back and forth all around the lake.  All in all it was a good day with 47 species seen by the group.

Ginger

Fort Walla Walla Natural Area Birds

This morning 8/28 my mom and I walked around the natural area and found lots of birds. The Yellow-breasted Chats are still singing, Gray Catbirds, Black-headed Grosbeaks and Western Tanagers are feasting on the chokecherries, Western Wood-Pewees are calling their plaintive call.

Many migrants are stopping there - Yellow, Townsend's, MacGillivray's, Wilson's and Nashville Warblers were all found along with good numbers of Warbling Vireo's. The Bewick's Wrens are again very vocal as are the Swainson's Hawk family. Enjoy these summer visitors before they all head south!MerryLynn

 

 

 

The Raptors Are Gathering

On Friday August 22 Deanna, Rodger, Ginger and I went out west looking for Raptors. We went out Frog Hollow to MacDonald and then south on MacDonald. The farmers were harvesting the alfalfa seed in the fields near the Waterbrook Winery site and the raptors were everywhere. You could count 24 at one time just scanning around. If you looked up in the sky there were many, many more. We concluded that you could almost pick any number for the quantity of raptors we saw and that number would probably be low.

Lots of Swainson's Hawks, many dark morphs and lots of juveniles. Many, many red-tail hawks sitting on the ground, on powepoles, on bee huts, just about everywhere. We even saw one balancing on a powerline.

We then continued west to Brynes Road where we found more raptors though not nearly the concentrations as on MacDonald.

Great birding and fascinating to see so many raptors and we were only out about 2 1/2 hours. Fun time.

Bennington Lake

Nesting time is drawing to a close at the lake.  Most of the summer migrants have raised their young and the fledglings are now very visible - especially yellow warblers and house wrens.  The swallows are starting to leave for their trip south after another very successful year.  The cliff swallows have left and the bank swallows are mostly gone.  A few tree swallows remain, and the barn swallows have started coming to the lake to feed.  Vaux's swift numbers are growing and should continue at least through August.

The Corp planted sunflowers in two places on the east side of the lake and the finches have already found them. August is when we start watching for migrants that don't nest at the lake to pass through on their way south - warblers, flycatchers, and shorebirds (we saw a greater yellowlegs today).  There's always something new to discover at Bennington Lake.  Mornings and evenings are the best time to walk the trail in the summer.  Birds are more active AND it isn't so hot! 

 

Bennington Lake today

The biggest surprise of the morning walk was a family of red-naped sapsuckers at the south end of the lake (one young and two adults).  There were several hundred swallows (mostly cliff and bank) over the lake.  Most of the tree swallow families were along the canal along with at least one family of rough-winged swallows.  We saw young lazuli buntings and black-headed grosbeaks along the canal and the yellow breasted chats were very vocal and visible today.  One Caspian tern was over the lake all morning, and an osprey made a brief appearance.  We saw a total of 46 species - another good morning of birding.

Ginger

Sandpipers and young birds

On our Bennington Lake walk this morning, we were surprised to find four WESTERN SANDPIPERS and one LEAST SANDPIPER along the base of the dam. Also, on the water were 17 NORTHERN SHOVELERS.  The summer birds have started to bring off young.  We saw seven young HOUSE WRENS and two young BULLOCK'S ORIOLES. Many of the others are feeding young, so it won't be long before the lake will be popping with young LAZULI BUNTINGS, WESTERN WOOD PEEWEES, YELLOW WARBLERS, YELLOW BREASTED CHATS, GRAY CATBIRDS, SPOTTED SANDPIPERS and CEDAR WAXWINGS. There were over 100 BANK SWALLOWS, the usual TREE, CLIFF and ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, as well as several VAUX'S SWIFTS. I encourage you to take an early morning walk around the lake - the birding is great!  Ginger

Bennington Lake Highlights

We found some unexpected birds on our walk around Bennington Lake this morning.  Three black-necked stilts were standing on the edge of the water just below the parking lot; a red-eyed vireo was singing in a cottonwood on the south end of the lake, and a turkey vulture soared over as we were walking along the west side of the trail. yellow-breasted chats and gray catbirds were along the west side of the trail, and Bullocks orioles, black-headed grosbeaks, peewees and yellow warblers were abundant all around the lake. Today we saw and/or heard 44 species.

Anyone is welcome to join us on our weekly survey of the birds at the lake.  This summer our normal schedule will be Tuesdays at 7:00 a.m.  It usually takes us 3-4 hours to complete the walk. If the time or day changes I will post the change on the website.

Ginger

Mountain Birding Field Trip

Twenty eager birders joined Mike and MerryLynn Denny for a full day of birding in the Blue Mountains on Saturday, June 14. The areas covered were Lewis Peak Road, North Fork Coppei Creek Road and Jasper Mountain Road.  The weather was warm and sunny after a long winter and a late snow fall last week. Highlights of the trip were:

 

Green-tailed towhee            Northern goshawk

Indigo bunting                    Swainson's thrush

Least flycatcher                 Red-naped sapsucker

Lark sparrow                     Lewis' woodpecker

Ruffed grouse                   Pygmy nuthatch

Townsend's warbler           Chestnut-backed chickadee

McGillivray's warbler          Western bluebird

 

We found a large patch of lady slippers, a calypso orchid and many more beautiful wildflowers along the roadside. White-tailed deer, a herd of 37 elk and spectacular scenery all added to the enjoyment of another wonderful visit to our beloved Blue Mountains. 

 

This was the last field trip of the year.  I will be posting fall trips sometime in August so be sure to check the website. A big thank you goes out to all of you who led trips this year. You made it possible for all of us to enjoy another fun year of birding.

 

Ginger

Brown Thrasher

I found a Brown Thrasher in the Fort Walla Walla Natural Area this morning - around the barn. It was seen again at 5 pm - may be on territory. This is a very rare bird and a first county record!MerryLynn

Willet

A Willet has been on the Walla Walla River delta off and on for a month - there were 2 sighted one day in May. This was our first June record and it may still be out there - you need a scope... MerryLynn

Least Flycatcher

For the third June in a row a Least Flycatcher has set up territory at the bridge on McCowan road off hyw 12 east past Dixie. A possible second bird was sighted this past weekend - we will watch to see if they nest here....MerryLynn

Great Gray Owl

An adult Great Gray Owl was seen up Biscuit Ridge this last weekend by folks on a field trip for the Washington Ornithological Society conference based in Walla Walla. This bird was in the first forested area where a family was first found in the county several years ago....MerryLynn

Green-tailed Towhee

Green-tailed Towhees were found up Biscuit Ridge and Lewis Peak this last weekend during the Washington Ornithological Society conference based here in Walla Walla. We hope to show folks a few on our field trip this coming Saturday. Brad Waggoner from Bainbridge Island found a new spot for them up Lewis Peak that is easy to get to.....MerryLynn

Indigo Bunting

A male Indigo Bunting was found Thursday the 5th of June by Jim Danzenbaker up North Fork Coppei Creek - 5 miles from the end of the pavement. This is a new species for Walla Walla County! The Washington Ornithological Society conference was held in Walla Walla June 6 - 9 and many birders got to see br>this amazing little jewel of a bird....MerryLynn

Eurasian Collared-Doves

This morning I had a Eurasian Collared-Dove fly over Scenic View just north of Walmart - and last week I had 2 of them fly over Electric Ave. north of College Place. They have been in Touchet for over a year and also up at Prescott. So far there are no sightings from Walla Walla - so if you see one please give Ginger or I a call. These birds are going to be common before long and will be hunted just like Mourning Doves. MerryLynn

BMAS Field Trip

Nine birders enjoyed a morning of birding on Foster Road and S. Fork Russell Creek Road the morning of June 1.  It rained all night so the birds were very active and visible when we got to our first stop on Foster Road.  One yellow breasted chat put on quite a show for all of us.  Our total species list was 48 and almost all of the birds were seen by everyone.  The biggest surprise of the day was the olive sided flycatchers on both roads.  They are migrating through our area on their way to the mountains, so we timed it just right. We also saw a very large swarm of honey bees in a locust tree.  They were fascinating to watch.

Here are the highlights of the trip:

 

Veery - several calling                Yellow-breasted chat - several

Olive sided flycatcher - 4             Lazuli bunting - several

Willow flycatcher - several           Black-headed grosbeak - several

Western wood peewee - many     Bullock's oriole - several

Western tanager - several            House wren - several

Great horned owl - 1                    Yellow warbler - many

Western kingbird - 2                    Wild turkey - many

Rufous hummingbird - - many       Gray catbird - several 

Calliope hummingbird - several      Chipping sparrow - several

Black-chinned hummingbird - 1     Fox sparrow - 2 heard

Warbling vireo - several                Swainson's hawk

Hairy woodpecker

 

Several of the group had cameras and scopes along so we have a good record of the trip.

Ginger

Bennington Lake

The summer birds have arrived!  On our Tuesday morning walk this week we saw Bullock's orioles, western wood peewees, yellow-breasted chats, western and eastern kingbirds, house wrens, yellow warblers, western tanagers, spotted sandpipers and more.  There are still two osprey fishing the lake and the tree swallows seem to like the houses Chris and John from the Corp put up around the lake.  There were seven goslings and 13 ducklings on the edge of the lake.  Anyone is welcome to join us on our weekly survey of the birds at the lake.  We are currently meeting Tuesdays at 8:00 a.m.in the parking lot. 

Ginger 

Lazuli Buntings

There are over 60 Lazuli Buntings in our yard this morning - with at least 50 being males. An amazing sight! Still have a dozen White-crowned Sparrows and a Chipping Sparrow coming in along with lots of Red-winged Blackbirds. Anyone is welcome to come sit in our carport and watch the birds.
MerryLynn

Lazuli Buntings

Lazuli Bunting have arrived in good numbers - had 4 males and 1 female in our yard today. Also have a Golden-crowned Sparrow and all three species of hummingbirds visiting the feeders. MerryLynn

American White Pelicans

This afternoon Rodger and I watch about 100 white pelicans swirling around over the Walla Walla River on McDonald Road.  We're not used to seeing so many pelicans this far in from the Columbia River.

Ginger

Tricolored Blackbird

We have had a female Tricolored Blackbird visiting our garden for a few days - just shows up off and on with the dozens of Red-winged Blackbirds.MerryLynn

Solitary Sandpipers and more

Good numbers of shorebirds are currently south of Lowden on Detour road inflooded pastures. This morning there were 2 Solitary Sandpipers, 4 LesserYellowlegs, 4 Greater Yellowlegs, 4 Wilson's Phalarope's, 3 AmericanAvocets, 8 Black-necked Stilts, 12 Killdeer and several winnowing Wilson'sSnipes. There are also many Yellow-headed Blackbirds among the Red-wings andBrewer's.MerryLynn

Bennington Lake

MerryLynn and I walked Bennington Lake on a cold windy morning on April 29.  The weather was less than ideal, but the birding was outstanding!  There were 8 black-necked stilts, 2 greater yellowlegs, and a Wilson's phalarope on the west side peninsula.  New spring migrants included 7 orange crowned warblers, 4 Nashville warblers, 3 yellow warblers, 10 western kingbirds, 6 Hammond's flycatchers, 1 dusky flycatcher, 3 Brewer's sparrows, a chipping sparrow, a Savannah sparrow, 4 house wrens, 3 Vaux's swifts, and a barn swallow.  Waterfowl included bufflehead, gadwall, mallard, redhead, ring-necked duck, shoveler, lesser scaup, cinnamon teal, canada geese with goslings, and coots.  We had a total of 59 species for the morning.  On the way home there were bank swallows in the cut on Berney Drive.

Ginger

Lesser Goldfinch

We had a lesser goldfinch at our niger feeders this evening.  This is the third year in a row that we have had one visit in the spring.  The yard is full of birds - including both a male and female rufous hummingbird and a golden-crowned sparrow.  I love spring!

Ginger

Western Kingbirds

We birded the west end of the county today and found some new birds for the year. Nice to see Western Kingbirds back around Touchet. Lots of American Avocets and Black-necked Stilts at the Walla Walla River delta and overlook pond. House Wrens were back singing and there were Bonaparte's Gulls flying around Two Rivers HMU.
Mike and MerryLynn Denny

Cassin's finches

We have 9 Cassin's finches in our back yard this afternoon. I have received messages from several other people around town that are also seeing them in their yards. There are also lots of pine siskins with the goldfinches and over 50 white-crowned sparrows. House Wren

Harris's Sparrow

The Harris's Sparrow is still hanging around. He is very unpredictable and seems really skittish. We seem him every couple of days. It would be great if they nested around here. George

Lincoln's Sparrow

There is still a Lincoln's Sparrow in our yard this morning along with dozens of goldfinches, redwings and whitecrowns. And our Mallard pair back under the blue spruce for our wierdest feeder birds of the year.
ML

Bennington lake

On April 23 there was an Eurasian wigeon on Bennington Lake.  Other waterfowl included bufflehead, lesser scaup, northern shoveler, American wigeon, ring-necked duck, coot, cinnamon teal, green-winged teal, canada geese and mallards.  There was a Lincoln's sparrow at the north end of the lake.  The tree swallows are building nests in all of the boxes around the lake.

 

House Wren