Field Trip - Burbank Heights HMU and More

Mike and MerryLynn Denny took us over to a little known birding spot in Burbank Heights along the Snake River.  There is a large riparian area on the river that was loaded with Bullock's orioles, black-headed grosbeaks, lazuli buntings and red-winged blackbirds.  In the dense trees we found a long-eared owl, and flushed a barn owl.  Away from the river is a beautiful stand of big sage, native rye grass and a variety of desert native plants.  After lunch at Hood Park we drove to Tyson Ponds and watched the Wilson's phalaropes, black-necked stilts and avocets.  We also saw blue-winged teal, cinnamon teal, redhead and a variety of other waterfowl.  On Northshore Road at the millet pond we saw a willet, three Bonaparte's gulls and several black-crowned night herons.  Our last stop was on Hatch Grade where we saw a grasshopper sparrow.  Mike pointed out many of the native plants, butterflies and other insects along the way making it a very interesting and educational field trip.     Ginger

Jasper Mountain

On the way up Jasper Mt. this morning the first bluebird box has Mountain Bluebirds in it. There are at least 6 Western Bluebirds nesting in others with 2 families fledged. Two of the boxes have nesting Tree Swallows in them.

From the "T" to the left is a pair of Red-naped Sapsuckers nesting in a tall snag - the hole they nested in last year is hosting Western Bluebirds. There were Hermit and Swainson's Thrush singing, lots of Western Tanagers, Lazuli Buntings, Townsend's, Orange-crowned, MacGillivray's and Yellow-rumped Warblers. Flycatchers included Western Wood-Pewee, Dusky and Hammond's.

Calliope Hummingbirds are common. Woodpecker numbers are way down this year with only a pair of Flickers and one far-off Hairy heard. Chipping and Song Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos are feeding young.
MerryLynn

Young birds at Bennington Lake

The birds were all out singing at the lake on Tuesday morning after the weekend rains.  Some of the birds that live there all year were feeding young - black capped chickadees, downy woodpeckers, robins and flickers.  The two young great horned owls were sitting on a snag along the canal squawking for food.  We found young tree swallows - the first of the summer birds to bring off young.  A yellow-breasted chat was displaying and we found a western wood peewee on a nest.  It won't be long before there are young birds all around the lake. Some of the other birds we saw were Bullock's orioles, eastern kingbirds, gray catbirds, black-headed grosbeaks, yellow warblers and house wrens.   A Forster's tern was hunting over the lake and there were two ruddy ducks on the water.  Another good morning at Bennington Lake with 47 species recorded.  Ginger

Green Tailed Towhee on Lewis Peak

MerryLynn and I drove up Lewis Peak Road this morning in search of the green tailed towhee that was found there last June.  It was there in the same spot - singing and showing off for us.  What a treat!  There were birds singing everywhere we went, but some like ruby-crowned kinglets, orange-crowned warblers and Townsend's warblers were hard to see.  We heard both hermit and Swainson's thrushes, and had a Swainson's come out on a shrub about three feet from the car.  Hammond's and dusky flycatchers were plentiful and MacGillivray's warblers were surprisingly easy to see. There was a huge flock of red-crossbills that flew back and forth along the top while we were watching the towhee. Woodpeckers were scarce, but we did see one red-naped sapsucker, one hairy woodpecker and a couple flickers.  It was a beautiful morning and reminded me of how lucky we are to have the Blue Mountains in our backyard.   Ginger

Summer Birds Field Trip

Twelve of us enjoyed a very warm morning of birding along Foster Road and South Fork Russell Creek Road today.  Gray catbirds were out singing all along Foster Road.  We also saw yellow-breasted chats, all three hummingbirds - rufous, calliope and black-chinned, western wood peewees, willow flycatchers, house wrens, yellow warblers, lazuli buntings, western tanagers, Bullock's orioles, black-headed grosbeaks and much more.  A western flycatcher was in a tree along S. Fork Russell Creek - just where the Corvinos saw it a week ago.  And we saw two Say's phoebe chicks sitting on a fence railing waiting to be fed. The only birds to elude us were the warbling vireo and the veery.  We heard both of them, but weren't able to actually see the birds.  It was a great outing, and even though we started at 7:00 a.m. it was very hot by the time we called it quits at noon.  The birds had quieted down and it was time to head for the shade!   Thanks to all who joined me this morning.   Ginger

Natural Area - A Cacophony of Sound

Rodger and I walked the Natural Area this morning.  Birds were singing everywhere - and with a little patience we were able to see the following:

 

flicker                red-winged blackbird        song sparrow

cowbird             Brewer's blackbird            MacGillivray's warbler

Bewick's wren    cedar waxwing                 yellow warbler

house wren        Bullock's oriole                yellow-breasted chat

gray catbird       black-headed grosbeak    great horned owl (one adult, one chick)

robin                 red-tailed hawk                black-chinned hummingbird

lazuli bunting     magpie                            warbling vireo

goldfinch           western wood peewee      mallard

 

It was fun to see all the summer birds.

Ginger

 

Willet and White-faced Ibis

Late evening May 27 Mike and MerryLynn found a Willet at the overlook pond
just east of Wallula Junction and 2 White-faced Ibis on the Walla Walla
River Delta. One Ibis was at the millet field on Northshore Drive but flew
off - probably to the delta. There were also Blue-winged and Cinnamon Teal
and the first Common Nighthawks of the year were migrating north over the
delta.
..................................................................................
Mike and MerryLynn Denny
Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley

If you have not birded, you have not lived