Little Birder: 2013 in Review, Part IV: June-July in Washington and Idaho

Well, we've been back in Washington for a few days now, and before the end of the year is officially upon us, I need to get through the final phase of the 2013 recap: Summer in the Pacific Northwest.

I find that most people from somewhere other than the northwest are oblivious to the astounding diversity within the state of Washington. "Oh, Washington, doesn't it always rain there?"

Not quite.

If you live in Seattle, or anywhere west of the Cascdes, then frequent drizzle and cloudy days are your lot in life - as well as breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks many days of the year. But then there's the other 2/3 of the state. The middle portion of the state is actually quite arid, where sage brush, apple farms, and wheat fields dominate the undulating landscape. The northeast part of the state is mountainous as the Selkirks creep across the Idaho panhandle and nestle in there. The rolling hills of the Palouse are just south of Spokane, and further south takes you right down to the impressive canyons along the Snake River.

This diversity is part of what makes driving across the state beautiful and intriguing at any time of the year. Usually our summer trips home are in early to mid July. This year, we were back a couple weeks earlier, and the increase in bird activity was obvious as we caught the tail end of breeding season. I flew into Spokane to pick up my car at my parents' place, and within minutes of being picked up from the airport, I had White-throated Swifts, Violet-green Swallows, and crested 300 for the year. The next day I made the westward drive to the Seattle area. One of my favorite parts of this drive is the dramatic drop (then climb) into the Columbia River valley, announced from the west by the wild horse sculptures dotting the horizon. Upon arriving in Spokane, I was pleased to hear from my dad that a Black-throated Sparrow had acquired my same liking for this portion of the state's topography by taking up residence there - and just two minutes off of I-90 no less! This is a great, though regular, bird for Washington (they breed fairly reliably at Steptoe Butte also), which is the northern extremity of its breeding range. In the same area, a Western Red-tailed Hawk, Black-billed Magpie, Common Raven, pair of calling Yellow-breasted Chats and host of Rock Wrens reminded me that I was indeed back in my home state.

Black-throated Sparrow

Vantage, Kittitas Co, WA

June 18, 2013

I met up with Jen at her aunt and uncle's place near Mt. Rainier. Aunt Gail and Uncle Scott are active and familiar with all of the nearby trails, so we got to do a lot of hiking over the next day that we spent with them. The forests were alive with the songs of Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Spotted Towhees, Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Red-breasted Sapsuckers, and Pacific Wrens to name a few. One of my main goals for my time home was to get some good looks at a Black-throated Gray Warbler, and we were afforded many! On one of our hikes, Jen spotted a few Elk trekking through a river, making us both very proud.

Black-throated Gray Warbler

O'Grady Natural Area, King Co, WA

June 18, 2013

Pacific Wren

Federation Forest State Park, King Co, WA

June 19, 2013

Elk

Federation Forest State Park, King Co, WA

June 19, 2013

One set of Jen's grandparents have a lake place up at Lake Cavanaugh, where we always love spending time whenever we get the opportunity. Bird highlights were the gorgeous Rufous Hummingbirds that frequented the feeders on their deck, and the best looks I've ever had of Band-tailed Pigeons.

Rufous Hummingbird

Lake Cavanaugh, Skagit Co, WA

June 21, 2013

Wilson's Warbler

Lake Cavanaugh, Skagit Co, WA

June 21, 2013

Band-tailed Pigeons

Lake Cavanaugh, Skagit Co, WA

June 21, 2013

Yeah, always rainy.

Lake Cavanaugh, Skagit Co, WA

June 22, 2013

Once getting back to Coupeville, a quick swing by the Keystone Ferry produced this handsome flock of Harlequins:

Harlequin Ducks

Keystone Ferry Landing, Island Co, WA

June 23, 2013

We headed over to Port Townsend to meet up with Aunt Julie and Uncle Mike to look for sea glass along North Beach at the lowest tide of the year. It was a long but beautiful walk, and there was plenty of sea glass to be had - though I was admittedly more interested in the birds. A beautiful Orange-crowned Warbler, a tussle between a Peregrine Falcon and Bald Eagle, and some friendly Black Oystercatchers rounded out the sea glass festivities. What a day!