Yakima River Canyon

The Yakima River Canyon is one of my most favorite areas in Washington State. It is simply a beautiful place with a winding road along an ancient winding river. Layers and stories of geology are all around. The birdlife during spring migration is exceptional - as are the wildflowers. There are Bighorn Sheep and Western Rattlesnakes. What a place!

For the past 4 years, I have attended the Kittitas Environmental Education Network (KEEN) Get Intimate With the Shrubsteppe (G.I.S.S.) festival. There are field trips in various areas of the canyon and also in the Teanaway Community Forest outside Ellensburg. I’ve learned a lot about birding and have grown in my knowledge by going to this festival and the field trips. This year, I only attended a Sunday field trip as I had an obligation in Seattle on Saturday (leading a Mountaineers Naturalist Birding Field Trip at Discovery Park). And, it was a great day! The weather was beautiful - and the participants were all exuberant to see the spring migrants come through the canyon.

I drove over to the canyon on Saturday night and found most of the campgrounds full - yet there was a spot at the “parking lot” campground at Roza Campground. Being in a van - and only for one night at this location - I didn’t mind. Plus, there was a parking spot for my friend Steve who was driving through the area that night on his way back from a scouting trip along the Grand Ronde Road - where we would co-lead a Washington Ornithological Society field trip the following weekend. Parked right next to my camper were two fisherman in their individual pick-up trucks and camper tops. The 4 of us all lined up against 4 parking spots right next to each other. Thankfully, the fly fisherman were pretty quiet and in bed early (as we were, too).

Sunday morning, we arose early to meet the field trip at 7 AM at the Umptanum Creek Recreation Area. We arrived a little bit early to eat breakfast in the parking area and to visit with the trip leader - Deb Essman - a wonderful person and Kittitas Birder prior to the rest of the group arrivals. It was great fun to catch up with her as I hadn’t seen her since last year’s festival. Steve had birded with her a few times throughout the year…which is something I need to do!

Yellow-breasted Chat - Yakima River Canyon

After setting out on the trail - our VERY first bird we saw was a Yellow-breasted Chat perched on top of a tall bush chatting his heart out. A lone Spotted Towhee on the same bush below the chat couldn’t get a word in edgewise. The chat is a bird which many people want to find on this trail - and we found one within minutes! There were also Western Tanagers, Lazuli Buntings, Northern House Wrens and a couple Golden Eagles among other specialties. We also came across a huge beaver dam that had been built this season. It is amazing the industry at which these critters can change entire landscapes. A great book called Eager talks in length about the natural history of Castor canadensis.

Umptanum Creek Trail - Yakima River Canyon

When I hike this trail during this festival, I am immediately brought back into "spring migration” mode and all the wonderful opportunities ahead! I saw my first Western Tanager of the year while on the hike. This bird is one of my absolutely favorites. One of the ones we saw - and one I photographed may have been a younger male as his reddish face wasn’t as fully filled out as others I’ve seen. Yet, he was still gorgeous! This bird is a wintering tropical bird that comes back every spring to the Western U.S. The reddish/orange and yellow with black wings are just beautiful. The breeding male’s face conjures up images of a “tequila sunrise”.

Western Tanager - Umptanum Creek Trail

After the hike - which ended around 11 AM, we took photos of a couple Bighorn Sheep that were munching sage across the highway. And, I had lunch in the Trailhead parking lot and then drive up the upper Umptanum Creek Road towards Wenas where I decided to spend a couple nights camping/working/birding. What a GREAT start to a long week of Eastern WA spring birding!

Bighorn Sheep - Yakima River Canyon