A few good pics and lots of fun birding Eastern Washington

This is one of several pics, I am fairly happy with from this week. It did not turn out as well as I would have liked, but I love the concept of this photo. He is not using a box, but a cavity in the wall of a cliffside, just near the creek that runs through my favorite hideaway in the Moses Coulee area.
I worked really hard for so many of the pics that did not turn out so well. Put over 1.000 miles on my car this week doing so.
But I had a blast doing it!
Started in Ephrata Washington on Monday, finished with Bob Sunstrom's Birding By Ear class today. We had great looks at the Lazuli Bunting whose pictures were so very blurry from the day before. If ONLY I had brought my equipment with me on this field trip, I would have gotten great shots of several birds.
More later...

Yardbird updates, new computer; evil dogs update; etc

Well, we decided we could not afford a Mac Laptop at this time, so we got a 13" Toshiba which has a lot of stuff that most 13 in notebooks do not have. For now I am keeping my Mac for my music and photoshop, which I still have to learn how to run.
Yesterday, I was again over run with Grosbeaks,. and the Male and Female Pileated Woodpeckers were at the feeders several times rather than just the male. Which may mean the eggs have hatched. I leave tomorrow for a field trip with the famous Bob Sunstrum, then Saturday I head out for a little mini-vacation of my own. I will have to do the nest searching on my return.
Okay the dog chewing on stuff update. Saturday the mini motorcycle (scooter) that Rich and Judy gave me for my birthday last month, came home to stay. I had ridden it about 20 minutes when I wrecked it the first time, so poor Rich had to take it back and repair it. Saturday I am riding around the block practicing turns, (which was my downfall before) and Mark and Rich were in the front Garden chatting away all this time. When we went into the house, we discovered the DOGS had chewed up the registration for the bike. They did NOT appreciate being left in the house I guess, and so this is my repayment. But at least my Owl and Woodpecker book is out of their way.

As far as bird photos go, I am quite sold on my set up now. I still have lots to learn about it all, and now have to study for the motorcycle permit, learn about my new laptop, and still need to figure out the Nikon Coolpix 5000, great camera, but lots of stuff to know. I did learn the benefits of not using a flash, I don't know how to run mine yet. Apparently using a flash flattens the eye of the subject, or takes out the roundness and expression of the bird. So maybe not knowing everything about my flash yet has been a good thing. But I will need it for Owls, and the evening lighting, as summer wears on and the bird feed later.
BTY, the Pileated was calling when the sun had already set, last night. That was fun for me.
I have lots of plants to plug today, and rock to clean for the natural pond we are putting in the front garden, so I hope it is not too cold and windy, or wet. Doing the pond reconstruction is a miserable tiresome job, but I cannot afford to have someone else do most of this stuff.
I hope to see my woodpeckers bath in it, it is all for them anyway!

About 100 or so Evening Grosbeaks today

Here is one of my handsome fellows, enjoying a snack. They ate so much today I had to fill the feeders 4 times, 4 platform and tray feeders, that is......I need to get another bag of seed tomorrow it seems!

The Grosbeaks are here!!!! And plans for the following 2 weeks

This week I started with about 6-10 birds, yesterday I had more than 40. I am filling the feeding platforms at least two times a day.Plus my Pileated now flies over t0 a tree to watch me fill his feeders, and then returns for more food! He has me trained.
Thursday I am going to Elma, maybe Bottle Beach, and then Friday is the Seattle Audubon Birding By Ear field trip, Saturday I am heading to Leavenworth, in hopes of sitting in on a photography class, and then heading to the Havillah area for 3 days, and back for a second field trip with Bob Sundstrom and the Seattle group. It will be a busy week, but somebody has to do it!
Today for Mother's day I am going to work in the garden beds, get special plants I need from the Windmill, and get ALL my stuff planted. Tomorrow my firstborn is taking me to Freight House Square for lunch as a belated Mothers Day.........

So NEXT week, if all goes well I might have lots of pics to share.

macro of Mosquito on dandelion

This is my first attempt, and I was quite surprised to find a visitor on my dandelion. I was just happy the plant was in focus.

Cost of repairing old birdbath, and update on Winter

Just to let you know, he is better. The Dr said that after the exam you would expect his knee to hurt a lot. He needs to basically have to work hard at completely tearing the ligament all the way, it is an old injury.

Okay the birdbath.
I have seen it sitting in the neighbors yard by the drive for 2 years, near the street. For a while it looked like she was going to use it as a planter, but never did. I finally went over and asked to purchase it. She gave it to me for free, since is was cracked in several places and leaky.
Cement crack filler stuff, $6
Disposable putty knife $1
Cement Sealer (to prevent further cracking) 1 gallon (all they had) $24
Disposable Brush $2
brand new jeans that got sealer on it $35
new garden gloves that got ruined $3
Having to get nails re-done, due to getting ruined by goo $18 with tip for Terry
Total cost= $89
Cost to have purchased a brand new short one just like it
$40

Winter receives serious injury, which worsens after visit to new Vet

Well the notorious chewer of books, with the ability to lift a hard back dictionary off of a desk, has met his match. He escaped a few days ago and came home limping, as usual. I just ignored it, but it became worse rather than better, so I took him in, knowing our old Dr of 20 years was retiring, and it would be okay to see the new owner of the clinic.
NOT a good idea, bad move.
She did a bunch of x-rays, including his hips, which I told her were fine. He has a torn ligament in his knee with water on the knee as well, and needs a surgery that runs around $3,000. In the process of doing the x-rays she had to drug him, so he would hold still.
This however made it a challenge to load him. She did not offer to splint his leg for protection, and after paying just shy of $400 for this short visit, we came home. I discovered he has further injured his knee, probably completely tore the ligament.
The pain meds do not work, at this time. They are over $100 a month also.
A rude awakening for me, as I have another dog still, who will need care over the next 10+years, it is like have your child's DR retire, and leaving a nurse in her place, as far as I am concerned......
Rescued dogs who have rescued me......you love them so much, and they are a great sub for grandchildren, but this is not good........

Kestrel Shot

Here is my first time for the Kestral, this should lead you to the flickr account, I think there are 7 pics total this set.
Taken at Marymoor Park yesterday afternoon at the dog park east entrance

Getting frustrated with trying to learn about my camera

I have gotten to the point of frustration now. I went into the Kits Camera shop, and discovered my ISO was set at the slowest speed, and so it is now at 200, rather than 64. The guy there was a great help. It was in Bellevue Square, and is closing so I was able to get two extra batteries for a total of 4, as well as a flash for half price, and some other things. He showed me a lot but felt I should NOT use auto focus at all. He does NOT realize how much work it is to have to focus the scope constantly and then trying to focus the camera on top of it. I am hoping for crisper pics of my hummingbirds wing motion with this higher setting.
I was able to meet Caren Parks, who is a swell gal and great photographer, last night at the East Side Audubon program. Mark and I were up at Mary Moor Park and only got pics of the Kestral, as there was not much going on so late in the day.
I am waiting for my Evening Grosbeaks to come in May. They stay for a couple of weeks AT least, so I will have ample op for photographing them.

upcoming toys, wish list soon to be fulfilled

Yeah!!!! I finally made a decision and bought Photshop Elements for my Mac, am ordering the Essentials 2 soon, and am hoping for a small MacBook laptop by the time our 32nd anniversary comes around, July 30.
It is unfortunate for me I am unable to take a class I wanted to at this time, due to my schedule, but I do look forward to three I signed up for via Seattle Audubon, classes and field trips are during the week. Two are on habitat, and one is Birding by ear, which I need to brush up on, although I am helping with the TCC bird watching class at the end of May, with my assistance being on the birding by ear portion. Glad it is a beginner course!
I have several trips lined up, one of which is back to Okanogan area, either the first weekend in May (I have to head out on Saturday afternoon, due to my schedule). If the weather is great on the coast I shall head there instead, and save Okanogan for Mid May. I am also wanting to spend some time in what looks to be a great migrant trap near Ephrata, which is why the trip East is so tempting. But I only have a couple of days for that trip.
I am no longer working on lists of birds, just photos. But I love it. Of course I shall keep track of what I do see, but hope to get photos of them at the same time!

My Pileated Male has made a return as a regular, now that the Mrs must be on eggs....If you click on the pic above it should take you to the flickr account where there are a number of what I consider rather humorous photos of him!
Also got my first Bushtit photo, that is fairly decent, as well as a few sparrow pics.
Now I just wait for the migration to arrive, and I will be working on them!

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher

This CAPTURE was the ultimate challenge, it was getting dark, and three Blue Grey Gnatcatchers were dueling, one wanting to move in on the other guys female.......The pic is of the winner. They do NOT hold still, zooming from the top of the short kansas trees, into the bushes, and zipping across the streets. The rather forlorn loser, flitted around in the background, sounding so lonely that I felt rather sorry for him, but that did not make him magically appear.

Rufous Hummingbird with tongue out!

Here she is in all her glory!!! There are more pics again on the flickr account, just click onto this photo and it will take you there

Evening Grosbeak

I took this several years ago with my old Canon, and very old spotting scope, this was in my back yard

link to website with our front garden

Our Landscaper Sean Corwin, has finally gotten his website done, here is a link to the page feature several photos of our front gardens, still not quite complete. Eventually I hope to add a slideshow via flickr of our whole setup, to encourage everyone on what a great time can be had by all

seanslandscapeservices.com/Portfolio.html

We are the first set, Biltz property

Varied Thrush

What a cutie, he has been here all winter, and is reluctant to leave, too much suet gets knocked to the ground!

New Rufous Hummingbird pics

I FINALLY got some great shots of my Rufous Male Hummingbird today. It has been my biggest challenge so far, trying to get them in line. These pics are not edited at all, which makes me even happier, as they have turned out well.
I will be adding more to my flickr account, there are so many to chose from!

Wolf Poachers in Washington, and Wolf Watchers in Alaska

Hi,
With the recent poaching death(s) of the new Lookout Wolfpack members being reported from the Twisp area, I thought it would be encouraging to post what has been on the Alaska birding yahoo group recently....
For those who had not read the recent information on the tragedy facing our first official Wolfpack I am enclosing the link to Conservation Northwest.

http://www.conservationnw.org/wildlife-habitat/loss-hits-washingtons-first-wolf-pack

From some of the information in this link I have enclosed, it seems this situation is hopefully an exception and not the rule. The Lookout Wolfpack was discovered in 2008, this is only 2009.
A cause for concern.

The posting below, to me at least brings some solace, over the heartbreaking news that has been released over our own Lookout Wolfpack.

posted 3/29/09 AKBirding@yahoogroups.com
Today Bob Sartor and I went to the hawkwatch (near Eureka) from
11 AM to 4:30 PM.

Highlight: We were watching the resident pair of Golden Eagles sitting near the top of a mountain. We had voyeuristic hopes of seeing more copulation. As the eagles were sitting, I noticed a wolf enter the scene as it stalked the eagles. Finally the wolf rushed the eagles, the eagles took off but did not seem intimidated as they immediately turned and dove several times attacking their attacker.

The eagles flew away and then we noticed a lighter colored, smaller wolf coming to join the first one. The smaller wolf squatted (a female) and urinated on the eagle perch. I checked the time on my watch and returned to watching the wolves. The wolves walked and ran along the spine of the mountain. A half a mile or so from the eagle perch, the wolves spotted a pair of ravens and both canines stalked the ravens. See part two on my next post.


Sun 3/29/09 8:35 PM
To: AKBirding@yahoogroups.com
The ravens were too quick for the wolves and flew off.

We believe the ravens had animal parts in that area as the wolves lingered, sniffed and pawed the area; whereas they spent little time at the eagle perch.

As the wolves were leaving, the larger, darker wolf lifted his leg and urinated. We assumed this was a mated pair. The female squatted and also marked this area. The male ran down the slope approximately 1500 vertical feet, he plunged through the deep snow at least once, and at the end of the run laid in the snow (to cool off?) and looked back toward the female. The female trotted 500 ft downslope toward the male then she stopped, sniffed and rolled in the snow with relish; she repeated this 5 more times - sniffing and rolling. The female than followed the male, placing her feet in nearly the exact footprints of the male's (we could see his tracks in the snow). They briefly chased each other playfully back and forth and then went out of sight over a low ridge. I checked my watch again; we had observed the wolf pair continously for just over 1 hour! This was another first for us at the hawkwatch!

Paul Fritz,
Palmer, AK

Okanogan Highlands Highlights

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Hi,
We left Tuesday for Ephrata, wishing to check out the Rimrock Meadows area, which is adjacent to Moses Coulee, and has trails leading into the Nature Conservancy area. Heading out of Ephrata taking 1st ST east, which turns into Sagebrush Flat Road, and then Rim Rock Road (this turns into highway 2 which leads to Waterville) After passing Hackamore on the left, (before you hit highway 2) following the curve on the road, you turn left onto an unmarked road. A couple of phone boxes down (on the left side) is Golden Place, on the left, which means you have made the correct turn. Following the road to the right it becomes sandy, at the T go left and follow to the end. There is a really nice area with picnic tables, a creek, and several birds were there, ROUGH WINGED SWALLOWS, MTN BLUEBIRDS, SAY'S PHOEBES, FLICKERS, DOWNY WOODPECKER and a number of other migrants. Found a pair of Snipe along the creek. This is going to be a good area, and I will check it out again the first of May. Coming out again I had a Loggerhead Shrike along the highway, which flew before I could get any pics of him.
The next morning we had several ROUGH LEGGED HAWKS, lots of RED TAILS, BALD EAGLES, as we headed towards Brewster.
Lake Lenore area, held high numbers of CANVAS BACKS, COMMON GOLDEN EYE, and various other ducks.
CONCONULLY State Park was a bit quiet as it was mid afternoon by the time we got there, however altho much of SINLAHEKEN Rd was frozen and muddy, it was passable, but the only highlight in this area were the PYGMY NUTHATCHES, past Conners Lake. We turned around following FISH LAKE ROAD, running into many BLUEBIRDS of both kinds, numerous SAYS PHOEBES, and a large flock of TURKEYS, near a farm. We had one TOWNSENDS SOLITAIRE in a tree as well.
The next morning we headed out to Tonasket-Havillah Rd, WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER being a highlight species. We also had 3 TURKEY VULTURES before Teas Rd.
We continued on finding a variety of the usual suspects along the route to Mary Anne Creek Road, where I hit the jackpot with two target birds.
I found a flock of about 20 PINE GROSBEAK, feeding along the snowbanks, and was following and trying to photograph them when a large flock of at least 50 COMMON REDPOLLS came in and scattered all around me. Until this time, I had only had the opportunity to see 1 Pine Grosbeak (a nesting female along Teal Lake area years ago) and one Common Redpoll.
We continued on to Molson where we had again numerous RED TAILS of a variety of plumage, some brilliant in color, and more Rough Legged Hawks, and a nice number of COMMON GOLDENEYES again in the melted parts of the waterways there, as well and Canada Geese.
Many roads proved to be very muddy, Bolster Road was a mess, and ended up being a challenge turning around, and not profitable at all as far as birds went.
The next day we hit Cameron Lake Road on the way home, and had a large flock of COMMON GOLDENEYE'S again, and PYGMY NUTHATCHES in one area. Towards the end of the road heading south, we had a large flock of TUNDRA AND TRUMPETER SWAN, with an even larger flock of SANDHILL CRANE'S, and a beautiful pair of Dark ROUGH LEGGED HAWKS, whose pic I could NOT get into focus with my equipment. I had a large flock of MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS also, maybe 50 or more, just before I ran into the only NORTHERN SHRIKE on this road.
Pateros produced a flyby WESTERN KINGBIRD.
It was nice to get out and see an area I had not birded in years, although the migration has not yet begun. I look forward to hitting this area again, and have appreciated the many postings recently for the Okanagan Highlands area. Hal Opperman's book and the writing of Andy Stepniewski were greatly appreciated, and made my life much easier! Thanks!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/saw-whets_new/

Great Birds Douglas County to Okanagan Highlands

Here is just one of several from my flicker account that I took the past few days. I will be posting a list via Tweeters as well as here when I get a chance!

Townsend's Warbler yesterday and new Pileated pic

This guy was just too cute. I was trying to photograph the Rufous Hummingbird, and Anna's but they were fighting, and would not sit still long enough to get a good shot. I did manage to get a few clear ones of this guy, which is very surprising.
Also some new candid photos of my female Pileated, she was acting rather coy yesterday!

Male Pileated today

My Male Pileated Woodpecker

Female Pileated Woodpecker Makes Her Debut

Today, for the first time this season, both Male and Female Pileateds showed up at the back feeders. I do believe she is new, as she was baffled by the baffle for the squirrels, flying and landing below it, rather than above. She sat there a while, and decided to head for the feeders on the tree. The other female from before always landed above the baffle. I heard the male drumming, and then he also showed up, and he fed at the station, while she fed at the tree. By the time I got my stuff set up, he had flown and she had figured out how to get to the rest of the feeders. He was in the front again, hammering on the poor old bird house, once occupied by a lone male house sparrow, who could not understand why no decent female would live under such horrendous conditions. (Also later one summer I had the surprise of a Flying Squirrel in that box)
I did get one decent pic of my female, and am posting it here. She is a beauty.

Pre-Dawn Chorus, very few choir members in attendance

Hi,
This morning we took out dogs on a walk before the sun started to show, hearing the Bald Eagles waking up in their nest.
By the time the walk was nearly finished, the sun had begun to peek through the clouds, which were starting to produce snow.
First a towhee, only one, then a couple of song sparrows started to join in, and a robin, and then two others. That was it. I don't expect much more than these species anyway, but there were so very few. (this time of year, has always had a nice number of singers this early, at least in the past) At this venture we had reached Allen York Park, where the city gave permission for 40+ year old duplexes and all their firs, maples, junipers, and shrubs to be torn down this summer. Some of the firs were well over 100 ft tall, and the Big Leaf Maples were great and wonderful trees. Not to mention the snags that are now gone. It was nearly silent, in this sobering moment, and very sad to me. This piece of Bonney Lake was cleared under protest, and now the ground lays dormant, covered with gravel and only two large condos in a corner, untouched for months.
The past two summers they have done a lot of clearing around my property, last year I only had one Swainson's Thrush in the summer months, whose song was more distant than in times past. They cleared for more boat parking, so the Swainson's lost there, as well as many other birds, and wildlife. I have not seen a coyote, or a deer in a year now. No Crossbills all winter, and I only have one pair of Purple Finches that visit on rare occasions now.
I think they should take out the gravel and plant the trees that they are saving in a lot down the road, who knows what they plan to do with them, they are getting root bound as it is. I will just keep doing what I want with my own property, but it can never make up for what has happened to my neighborhood.

Late Night with Conan O'Brien - Birdwatching

Late Night with Conan O'Brien - Birdwatching