Tweets,

After scarfing down half a 100% milk chocolate Easter egg bunny (Susie the
other half), I decided I'd better wear off some of those calories. I headed
up Rattlesnake Ridge at 1900, about 30 minutes before local sunset. Soon
after setting off on the hike, I heard and saw my first migrant flock (~
300) of Lesser Canada Geese of the mid-April migration making their way
northwest high over the Yakima River. High pressure today and light winds
probably gave the right signal that it was time to head off to their Yukon
and interior Alaska breeding grounds. Forty minutes later at 1940, while on
the crest of Rattlesnake Hills, another drawn out flock (~ 250-300) angled
up the valley still higher than the crest of the hills. I had started at
300 m elevation, climbed to 550 m, yet the geese were probably another 100
m higher. I was excited to witness this migration from the crest of the
hills- got a birds eye view. Reading Cannings Birds of the Okanagan Valley,
I wonder if the flocks leaving southern Washington in the evening are the
same ones that show up between 0600 and 0900 when they pass far overhead in
Canada's Okanagan? At 40 mph, it seems possible the same birds could be
involved. Or, are there several staging spots enroute? Anybody with ideas
on my speculations?

Off topic, but the wildflowers this year are simply gorgeous. The tall
biscuitroot (Lomatium dissectum) is 4' tall! And dense. Lots of other
species in bloom or past. Fiddlenecks, Erigerons, balsamroot, wallflowers,
Canby's biscuitroot and big seed biscuitroot. Shows what generous
precipitation will do.

For all you west of the Cascade crest readers, perhaps plan on an eastside
trip soon to catch the migration and the flower show.

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA