Subject: Mayflies & Waxwings
Date: Jul 16 14:43:52 1994
From: grant hendrickson - ghendric at potlatch.esd112.wednet.edu


I'm new to this list, but I thought some might be interested in an
observation last evening. Lake Merrill, just above Cougar on the south
flank of Mt. St. Helens, is a favorite dry fly fishing spot. The usual
birds seen are ospreys (two nesting pairs), spotted sandpipers, several
varieties of swallows, and swifts (which I have not yet been able to
identify accurately).

At this time of year there is a tremendous hatch of hexegenia mayflies,
a bright yellow insect about an inch long. The hatch begins about 8:30 PM
and continues until full dark. Dry fly anglers come
from miles around for the catch and release, barbless hook fishing. So
apparently do the cedar waxwings.

Last evening as I sat in my small boat, enjoying the beautiful scenery,
scanning the trees trying to identify the birds which were singing, I
began to notice birds flying in and perching on the tops of snags and
leafless tree limbs. After seeing about a dozen take up such positions, I
realized that we all were waiting for the start of the same event.

About 8:30 I cast my imitation dry fly and immediately one of the cedar
waxwings fly down off its perch to about 15 feet from the boat and
hovered over the fly and gave it a thorough examination. Being apparently
smarter than trout, it flew back up to its perch without picking up the fly.

A few minutes later the mayflies began emerging and all of the waxwings
began feeding on these huge bugs. I had seen many of these birds feeding
on berries in our area, but this was a first for me.

It was interesting to compare their behavior with that of the bats which
began feeding as it got darker. These were constantly picking up the fly
from the water and then dropping it. Since the fly is very large, they
don't get hooked, but it creates an interesting competition between bats
and trout.

Can anyone help me with ideas on how to identify which species of swift I
am seeing? They are flying high and fast!

Grant Hendrickson
ghendric at esd112.wednet.edu