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Whiskey Dick Unit (day hike), LT Murray Wildlife Area
May 2020


Synopsis
April seemed painfully long with the shutdown of state lands in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. When they finally reopened at the beginning of May, we took a day hike around the Whiskey Dick area of the LT Murray Wildlife Area between Kittatas and Vantage. This wildlife area is the perfect place for some social distancing. We saw few people: most wizzed by on their ATVs and just a couple of other hikers in the distance. There are plenty of jeep trails and open sage/grasslands to easily wander around without coming into prolonged contact or even close contact with other people.

May is a perfect time to visit this area for its blooming wildflowers: lupin, hawksbeard, penstemon and the hedgehog cactus. Sagebrush birds, including the Brewer's, Vesper, Sagebrush Sparrows and Sage Thrasher were singing from the brush. A Short-eared Owl patroled the open hillsides in the afternoon sun. Short-horned Lizards scuttled across jeep trails.

Whiskey Dick Ridge is a wonderful place to neader and mentally recharge during these trying times.

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Pictures (click on thumbnail to enlarge)
















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Bird List
California Quail
Chukar
Northern Harrier
Swainson's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Short-eared Owl
Dusky Flycatcher
Loggerhead Shrike
Black-billed Magpie
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Rock Wren
Bewick's Wren
Sage Thrasher
Mountain Bluebird
House Sparrow
House Finch
Brewer's Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Sagebrush Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Western Meadowlark
Bullock's Oriole
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Lazuli Bunting
Critters
Short-horned Lizard
Least Chipmunk
Cottontail
Elk
Flowers in bloom
Antelopebrush
arrowleaf balsamroot
Hooker's balsamroot
Desert Parsley
Douglas Brodiaea
Lupine
Simpson's hedgehog cactus
milkvetch
Yellow Fiddleneck
Yellow desert fleabane
Bearded hawksbeard
Thyme buckwheat
Western groundsel
Gairdner's beardtongue
Thompson's paintbrush
Franklin's sandwort
Shaggy fleabane
death camas
Threadleaf phacelia
Phlox
Butterflies
Ochre Ringlet
Silvery blue
Juba skipper
Checkerspot sp
Swallowtail sp.

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page updated: 5/20/20