>I spent a good part of the day at Umtanum Creek, SW of Ellensburg, on 16
>Aug, expecting at least a small variety of migrant birds. In fact, all I
>saw was one immature Rufous Hummingbird, presumably fledged farther north
>or higher up in the mountains. Not a single other migrant, even though
>there had been unsettled weather for a few days previously. There weren't
>even very many of the breeding birds; most had apparently flown the coop.
>There were families of Lewis' Woodpeckers and Rufous-sided Towhees, a few
>Cedar Waxwings and Black-headed Grosbeaks among the summer birds; flickers,
>magpies, and goldfinches among the residents. I had last been there on 18
>May, when a wave of hundreds of migrants was passing through (literally a
>Wilson's Warbler in every bush); the contrast was striking.

For the last few days there have been lots of Wilson's Warblers here on
the coast at Half Moon Bay, California. They are accompanied by lesser
numbers of Orange-crowned Warblers. Local birder Ron Thorn thinks that this
wave of warblers is early and he attributed it to the cold fronts being
experienced by you guys up there. I would not be surprised if our wave is
the same that was up there on the 18th. Inland here in the bay area they
have been seeing some migrants, but largely Yellow Warblers from one source
I talked to. What else have you sent us down? Well, there has been a
definite movement of jaegers in the last few days with both Parasitics and
Pomarines being seen from shore. I had a great look at an adult Pomarine two
days ago chasing Heermann's Gulls, what a sight. The spoon-shaped tail tips
were very long, longer than I had expected as I had only ever seen immatures
and winter plumaged birds of this species.

Don's comments on hawks are interesting. Here in the county, people are
seeing Sharpies and Cooper's Hawks daily at different sites. There does not
seem to be a lack of hawks when you get down here, so perhaps northern
California had a good year. Many of the birds being seen are juveniles.

Take care,

Alvaro Jaramillo
Half Moon Bay, CA

alvaro at quake.net