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A male Mountain Bluebird hunting insects!! Photot taken in Bickleton, Washington, known as the Bluebird capital of the world. The Bluebirds migrate to Bickleton each Spring after wintering in Mexico and California.
A male Mountain Bluebird perched and looking for insects. Photo taken in Bickleton, Washington, the Bluebird capital of the world!
One of my favorite Spring and Summer visitors! A Western Kingbird perched on barbed wire for the best vantage point to catch flying insects. Photo taken in Bickleton, Washington.
A darling Juvenile Violet-green Swallow sitting on a barbed wire fence. One parent was about 10 feet from him, and was actively flying off to catch insects. Photo taken in Bickleton, Washington.
Yesterday, we drove to Bickleton, Washington, for our annual view of the Mountain Bluebirds. It was a partially cloudy day with a mild wind. The males and females were equally active in hunting to feed their youngsters. The male was perched on a barbed-wire fence along the roadway, and if he saw any flying insects, he would bolt off to catch them. Cemetery Road in Bickleton is one of the main roads to view the Mountain Bluebirds.
The Western Kingbirds would sit on the barbed wire fences and fly off to catch insects. Photo taken in Bickleton, Washington.
A Western Meadowlark with a mouth full of insects to feed her little ones! Photo taken in Bickleton, Washington.
When we were just entering the City of Bickleton, we had to stop for two male California Quail that were crossing the road. One decided to stop at the edge of the road and pose for a few photographs. He didn't seem to mind our cameras nor the vehicles driving by. I love their head plumes which make them so darn adorable and unique.
When we were just entering the City of Bickleton, we had to stop for two male California Quail that were crossing the road. One decided to stop at the edge of the road and pose for a few photographs. He didn't seem to mind our cameras nor the vehicles driving by. I love their head plumes which make them so darn adorable and unique.
A Horned Lark foraging in the grass for insects and seeds. You have to look really close for movement as they blend into background. Photo taken in Bickleton, Washington.
Tuesday, we drove to Bickleton, Washington, for our annual view of the Mountain Bluebirds. It was a partially cloudy day with a mild wind. The female Mountain Bluebirds were active in hunting insects to feed their youngsters. I love the females subtle gorgeous colors!
A beautiful Killdeer foraging for insects and worms. The Killdeer stopped for a brief moment for it's closeup. Photo taken in Bickleton, Washington.
A gorgeous male California Quail, strolling into the foilage. He is really striking with his head plume. Photo taken in Bickleton, Washington.
A male Mountain Bluebird, perched on a fench post! He did not stay perched for very long, as he flew off to capture insects. Their brillant blue colored feathers are stunning. We traveled to Bickleton, Washington, to see these beauties. The Mountain Bluebirds migrate to Bickleton in the Spring to breed and raise their young.
A gorgeous Horned Lark, fluffing it's feathers. I love the colors and feather markings on these beauties. Photo taken this Spring in Bickleton, Washington.
I've been to Bickleton, Washington exactly two times to find bluebirds, and both times I found some bluebirds right along the road on the outskirts of town.
Thanks, Bickleton!
A Male Horned Lark! He was fluffing his feathers and preening to look his best. He looks so serious with his distinctive markings, and black feather tufts on the head that resemble horns. Photo taken in Bickleton, Washington.
A beautiful Killdeer foraging for insects and worms. The Killdeer stopped for a brief moment for it's closeup. Photo taken in Bickleton, Washington.
The remote, little town of Bickleton, Washington is known for bluebirds. Mostly, I've seen mountain bluebirds like this one, but there are plenty of Western bluebirds around, as well.
This is from the last time I drove through the area, about a year ago.
A male Mountain Bluebird has his eye on a flying insect! He was capturing insects to bring back to feed his nesting female and/or little ones. Photo taken in Bickleton, Washington.
An adorable Killdeer chick on the search for an insect snack! His parents were only a few feet away. Photo taken in Bickleton, Washington.
A male Horned Lark singing in the morning. His song was very beautiful until a large dump truck rumbled down the road, and he flew away. I love the very destintive black and yellow face markings. Photo taken in Bickleton, Washington.
A male Brewer's Blackbird!! The BRBL hopped up on a rusty fencepost for a better view to hunt insects. Photo taken in Bickleton, Washington.
A Western Meadowlark singing away on a fence post. The Meadowlarks song is very distinctive and wonderful to listen to. Photo taken in Bickleton, Washington.
A female Mountain Bluebird posing on top of her bird house. In Bickleton, Washington the residents put up bird houses on their fencelines. Bickleton is know as the Bluebird Capitol of the World.
A male Mountain Bluebird pearched on a tree branch for a better view to hunt insects. I love the shades of blue in his feathers. Photo taken in Bickleton, Washington.
As we were driving home from Bikleton, Washington, I spotted this gorgeous Coyote! Bikleton Highway is a two lane highway, with not a lot of traffic. My husband was able to stop, and backup, so I could take a few photos. Photo taken in Bikleton, Washington.
Porch of abandoned house, collapsing barn and windmills in Bickleton, Washington, population 88.
Bickleton holds the oldest rodeo in Washington state each year, has the oldest operating tavern in the state and is so full of bluebirds in summer, it calls itself the bluebird capital of the world. Hope to spend more time in the area next summer.
Mountain Bluebird, Male
Bickleton, WA
Years ago I read that Bickleton was the Bluebird capitol of the world based on the thousands of Bluebirds that spend most of the year in the area. So off I went to Bickleton. I did not see thousands of the beautiful birds, but I did see lots of them and was not disappointed.
This is not actually in the limits of Bickleton, but west of town along the Bickleton highway.
There is a bluebird population that lives in the area, and the townsfolk of Bickleton have placed bluebird birdhouses about every half-mile through town and along the highway outside of town.
1947-49 vintage. Stenciled warnings on the door state "No intoxicants on truck" and "no riders under 18 yrs". Guess that means intoxicants are permitted INSIDE the vehicle and DRIVERS can be of any age.
Bickleton's 98th Pioneer Picnic And Rodeo was held June 14 and 15, 2008 at the rodeo and picnic grounds in Cleveland. Cleveland is about four miles west of Bickleton. Week-end features and activities include RV camping, Cowboy breakfasts, one of the oldest carousels on the west coast, Saturday night dance and good food including home made pies. All of this and the professional rodeo on Saturday and Sunday.
Many former area residents come home on this week-end to enjoy and participate. Other people come from near and far to take part. Local ranchers provide the rodeo stock and local cowboys attempt to rope or ride them. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. Either way the spectators enjoy the action. It costs $7.00 to watch the rodeo and is a bargain.
You may get involved yourself and go for a fifty cent ride on the carousel. It is a 1905 Herschell-Spillman and is said to be one of only three of its type still in operation. It was purchased from Portland's Oaks Park in 1929 and brought to Bickleton. All of the ponies are safely stored most of the year and are only brought out for this one week-end. They are in the slow process of being restored. Oh - and your age doesn't matter. There will be riders so young they need to be held on to and riders so old they need to be held on and every age between.
If you get to feeling brave, sign up to ride one of Kelly Bowcutt's bulls in the rodeo. They only work eight seconds a week-end and lay around the pasture in Roosevelt the rest of the time getting fat and lazy. Most of them don't even get to work their full eight seconds. Just be sure you are mobile and agile.
Cowboy breakfast is served at 7 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday There are food concessions with the usual food for this type of event. Top off your lunch with home made pie and ice cream. There are always several varieties of pie available and the servings and the price is fair.