Date: 10/11/25 12:20 pm From: Tim Brennan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Columbia County birding 10/7-8
Howdy!
I made my monthly run out to Columbia and Walla Walla Counties a few days back. In Walla Walla, I thought that I might be able to pick up my 150th species for the year - either on the way to Columbia, or on my way home - but struck out. I looked at a lot of White-crowned Sparrows trying to pull out a White-throated or Golden-crowned at a lot of different stops... I kept my eyes on every American Kestrel I passed, to make sure it wasn't a Merlin... I crossed my fingers for Wilson's Snipe. But this year goal will be met in November or December!
In Columbia County, on the other hand... I found no new year birds! 😄Goodness, it's just that time of year, I guess. But it was still an amazing trip, deeper into the Blue Mountains than I'd been before. I stayed at Godman Campground, and hiked a bit of the West Butte trail. The Blues, over time (if I am accurately remembering a piece I read years ago) have been shifting in many areas from Ponderosa Pine to Douglas Fir, making some of those Ponderosa specialists (Pygmy Nuthatch, White-headed Woodpecker, Flammulated Owl) more and more challenging to find. Several sources seemed to be pointing me towards the southeastern-most parts of the county for these. I didn't quite get there, but even along the West Butte Trail, I could feel this shift in trees, and it gave me some hope. I also had hopes for American Three-toed Woodpecker (seen in this area ON the day I was there, but not by me), and Pine Grosbeak (same). I had multiple rounds of invisible-molt woodpeckers... or at least woodpeckers that refused to move to convenient branches for me to view them. Oof.
I had plans to drive to Table Rock, and to the Twin Buttes trailhead, trying for Boreal Owl along that whole stretch. A tree across the Forest Road ended the plans for Table Rock, but I did the rest of this stretch, trying calls for Boreal, Northern Saw-whet, and (if things had been otherwise silent) Barred Owl. I was able to pick up three Northern Saw-whet "skiews" (a very familiar call, and not the Boreal call I was hoping for!), and a single Barred Owl - my second in the Blues this year - both in Columbia County. As it turned to morning, I drove back to camp, and picked up a Northern Pygmy Owl as well - also not new for the year, but a fun find. Dusky Grouse were out on the roads, tame enough for me to get pictures... even though my actual camera had no charge! But at such short range, even flip phone + binoculars allowed for a few ID pics.
Interesting to talk to Chris Lindsey, who has put together 189 species in Columbia for the year and counting (eclipsing the previous record of 172). Despite what seemed like a bust of a trip for me, I found three species that he still needs for the year (Barred Owl, Evening Grosbeak, Dusky Grouse). Together with the species that I needed that were found by others (American Three-toed Woodpecker, Pine Grosbeak), it just highlights how fun this whole search can be. Amazing trip, and it was an absolute joy to be hiking sparse ridges, then driving deep mountain roads on a quiet, still, full-moonlit night.
