Western Bluebird perched near its nest box in the town of Bickleton, Washington. Local residents have deployed and continue to maintain a large number (reportedly more than 2,000) of nest boxes for the colorful migrants.

Lawrence and Ada Whitmore stand in front of a sheep camp wagon at the Whoop 'N' Holler Ranch Museum in Bickleton.

Photo by Jens Lund.

Brand new Say's Phoebe: see the orangey (not white) wing bars and even a bit of pink still showing at the corner of the gape. I love the background coloration/bokeh/whatever that nature has provided. I'm not sure but the first two might have been through the windshield, either way, nice colors.

Vesper Sparrow

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Only a small part of the vehicles on the property are visible. And there were more to my right. At the Whoop-N-Holler Museum south of Bickleton, Washington.

Mutton busting.

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Mt Hood is across the Columbia river in Oregon in this view looking south from Bickleton

Bickleton Hwy to Old Mtn. Rd. mom car, Ekone WA, 3-31-2018 SAT, hand, 500D T1i (21)

Mutton busting.

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Mutton busting.

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Female Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) near Bickleton, Washington. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Bluebird/overview www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/western-bluebird

Female Brewers Blackbird gathering her snacks

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Male Western Bluebird near Bickleton, Washington. Local residents have deployed and continue to maintain a large number (more than 2,000?) of nest boxes for these colorful migrants.

Old red barn contrasted with an amazing sky along the Mabton Bickleton Rd near Bickleton, WA.

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On the Whoop-N-Holler Museum property, south of Bickleton, Washington.

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Bickleton Carousel Museum. I paid admission and could have gotten a lovely detailed tour but decided I'd rather see wildlife (or at least, wildlife that wasn't taxidermies...) will have to plan to spend time there, if I ever go back for a longer period of time than an overnight stay (staying in Goldendale, which has some great wildlife nearby as well.) To quote their web site: "The Carousel Museum opened in May of 2007 to display and house the 24 horses and 4 carriages from our 1890-1906 Herschell-Spillman traveling track Carousel and house the history of Alder Creek Country. The museum has been gifted over 4800 historical items and artifacts that we use in our ever changing displays. In 2024 we are featuring Military, Churches in our area in 1900, Barb Wire Display, Wildlife of our Alder Creek area, Great Grandma’s Kitchen, 100+ years of Wheat Farming, Native American, Schools, Laundry, Brands, Tools, Music Room and much more. Our history room is ever expanding as we preserve the past for the future. Come see us!"

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The whole story

Mutton busting.

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25 miles from Mabton - we'd done lots of climbing and battling of headwinds up to this point.

This was the only area with services

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Bickleton Carousel Museum. I paid admission and could have gotten a lovely detailed tour but decided I'd rather see wildlife (or at least, wildlife that wasn't taxidermies...) will have to plan to spend time there, if I ever go back for a longer period of time than an overnight stay (staying in Goldendale, which has some great wildlife nearby as well.) To quote their web site: "The Carousel Museum opened in May of 2007 to display and house the 24 horses and 4 carriages from our 1890-1906 Herschell-Spillman traveling track Carousel and house the history of Alder Creek Country. The museum has been gifted over 4800 historical items and artifacts that we use in our ever changing displays. In 2024 we are featuring Military, Churches in our area in 1900, Barb Wire Display, Wildlife of our Alder Creek area, Great Grandma’s Kitchen, 100+ years of Wheat Farming, Native American, Schools, Laundry, Brands, Tools, Music Room and much more. Our history room is ever expanding as we preserve the past for the future. Come see us!"

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American Kestrel with prey near Bickelton, Washington.

An old wagon that is part of the Whoop 'N' Holler Ranch Museum in Bickleton.

Photo by Jens Lund.

Mountain Bluebird male near Bickelton, Washington, with food for hatchlings. Bickelton, with more than 2,000(?) nest boxes deployed by local residents, is known as the Bluebird Capital of the World.

Coyote pup looking lost along East Road south of Bickleton, Washington. Is that a toothpick or a Porcupine quill?

Mountain Bluebirds, mating pair, near Bickelton, Washington. Male, on right, has food for hatchlings in nest box. Bickelton, with more than 2,000(?) nest boxes deployed by local residents, is known as the Bluebird Capital of the World.

On the Whoop-N-Holler Museum property, south of Bickleton, Washington.

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This Western Meadowlark was perched along the highway between the towns of Goldendale and Bickleton, Washington.