Baby Birds at Bennington

There were baby birds everywhere we walked this morning – yellow warblers, Bullock's orioles, house wrens, black-headed grosbeaks, gray catbirds, Bewick's wrens, song sparrows and cedar waxwings.  It was nice to see so many fledgling birds. Lots and lots of swallows were flying over the lake – bank, northern rough-winged, tree, cliff and even a few  barn. One osprey was fishing. Yellow-breasted chats were still very vocal as were the western wood peewees, magpies and flickers.  We saw a pair of western tanagers along the west side trail.  In past years they have nested there, but this was the first we'd seen of them in a month or so.  Goldfinches and robins were abundant.  There was one greater yellowlegs along the south shoreline as well as several killdeer and spotted sandpipers.  We walked at 7:00 this morning, so it wasn't too hot.  It you want to enjoy the birds but avoid the heat, I would suggest going early in the morning and walking the western side of the lower trail from the parking lot.  We saw most of the species mentioned in that area.

Have fun and enjoy the birds.  Ginger

Bennington Lake today

After being rained out on Tuesday, the birds really put on a show today for us.  Nesting season is in full swing now and the sights and sounds were fantastic.  Many of the house wrens have fledged and were rustling around in the brush.  We saw three osprey, three buffleheads, two double-crested cormorants and two great blue herons on the water.  We also saw five great horned owls today – both adults and young. Several killdeer were along the dam, including one very tiny youngster.  Yellow-breasted chats were calling loudly and I got really good looks at one.  The calliope hummingbird was in its usual spot along the west side of the lower trail and there were at least three willow flycatchers along the canal. Add yellow warblers, western wood peewees, Bullock's orioles, black-headed grosbeaks, Bewick's wrens, song sparrows and black-capped chickadees to the musical chorus, and it made an orchestra of birds!

It's getting hot now, so the best time to see the birds is early morning or evening when they are the most active.  Ginger 

Oh The Birds We Saw....

Bennington Lake this morning was teeming with birds.  All the summer birds were there and they were all singing a happy song because it wasn't raining. Bullocks' orioles, black-headed grosbeaks, gray catbirds, yellow-breasted chats, western wood peewees, willow flycatchers, yellow warblers, house wrens, western tanagers – the list goes on and on.  How fun!  In addition to the usual birds we saw some unexpected visitors as well.  The southeast corner of the high trail seemed to be our best location for the unexpected.  In that area we saw a least flycatcher, a olive-sided flycatcher and two lesser goldfinches.  The rain returned shortly after we finished our walk so we were lucky to have the good weather.  It was also good to have all of our regular walkers back from their birding jaunts across the country.  Ginger

Summer birds

Many of you have sent me emails about birds you are seeing in your yards and while out walking.  Western tanagers and Wilson's warblers have been reported several places.  Lesser goldfinches have been seen both at Rooks Park and Bennington Lake.  I saw a pileated woodpecker at Rooks Park. The sights and sounds of summer birds are everywhere.   A peregrine falcon has been seen above the Whitman Hotel several times in the past two weeks.  Ospreys and Swainson's hawks are nesting.  Red-tailed hawks have chicks and great horned owl chicks have fledged.  I hope you will get out and enjoy all the wonderful summer birds.  Ginger

Black-throated gray warbler at Bennington Lake

There was a beautiful black-throated gray warbler in the willows on the west side of the trail this morning.  What a treat to see since they rarely visit Walla Walla County.  It was cool and windy for our walk, but we saw lots of great birds including a yellow-breasted chat.  There were several western tanagers, black-headed grosbeaks, Bullock's orioles, western wood peewees, lazuli buntings, western and eastern kingbirds, and warbling vireos.  House wrens and Yellow warblers were plentiful, but we also saw Wilson's warblers and heard a orange-crowned warbler.  We got good looks at a Hammond's flycatcher and the canal was full of tree swallows, cliff swallows, northern rough-winged swallows, Vaux's swifts and at least one violet-green swallow.  Seven spotted sandpipers were sitting on a log at the south end of the lake and an osprey patrolled the waters. Good birding!  Ginger

New Arrivals at Bennington Lake

Here it is May 15 and it was already so hot we looked for the shade.  The birds like the warm weather too because we had many returning species today – western wood peewee, eastern kingbird, Wilson's warbler, MacGillivray's warbler, lazuli bunting, orange-crowned warbler, Vaux's swift, Cassin's vireo and warbling vireo.  The great horned owl hole looked empty when we started our walk, but there was one chick sitting at the entrance when we left.  The black-headed grosbeaks, Bullock's orioles and western kingbirds were noisy, but not nearly as noisy as the house wrens and yellow warblers.  We still had to wade but it felt nice after the hot walk on the east side of the lake.  Especially nice, was having MerryLynn back with us today.  Her expertise adds much to our weekly walks.  Ginger

Oops!

I meant to say Pacific tree frog in my blog about the Jasper Mountain field trip.  Ginger