Tweets,

A Least Flycatcher was calling from aspens a few yards north of Wenas Creek
(1/8 mile north of the stream crossing or about 1 mile south of the
campground. I heard it this morning at 7am and again with Dick Johnson
(WSU) in the early afternoon. This is the 2nd Least Flycatcher from this
area this spring (another on 24 May in lower Hardy Canyon), and the 3rd in
Yakima County this spring (1 on 31 May, again on 1 June on the Yakima
Training Center).

I also had Hammond's up the North Fork in mature grand firs, Dusky south of
the campground in deerbrush/willow/currants, Gray in the open pine woods on
Hog Ranch Road, and "Westerns" everywhere along the creek.

On hummingbirds, Calliope seemed surprisingly scarce (I saw only 2 in an
hour) in the deerbrush/currant-covered slopes south of the Wenas
Campground. I wonder if this species is most common on spring migration (1
May through about mid-May) in this area, due to the abundant flowering
currants, which bloom at that time and maybe seem like dessert to hummers.
And that deerbrush flowers, which were in bloom now, are less attractive
(or not utilized?). Hence, this habitat may harbor only a low density of
breeding Calliopes and most breed at higher elevations where flower
abundance and diversity may be greater. Why I bring this up is because I
had previously thought Calliopes were common summer residents on the
above-mentioned slopes; this may not be the case. Any thoughts on habitats
Calliopes use in eastern Washington?

Or, is this just another observation reflecting on the scarcity of
hummingbirds regionwide this season?

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA