I spent some time saturday and Sunday birding
in the Ellensburg vicinity. Starting just east of
Cle Elum, I ran into George Gerdts who pointed out
a catbird singing from the top of a snag. Quite a
treat-usually catbirds are furtively calling from
deep in the underbrush. Nearby were BH grosbeak,
yellow warbler, yellowthroats and wood ducks.
Searched a burn for woodpeckers to no avail,
although had T. solitaires, Cassins finches,
wood peewees, and W. Tanagers. At lower
Robinson Canyon there were quite a few Lewis
woodpeckers flying around and a pair of house
wrens nesting in the gate posts as last year.
But no Lazuli buntings-are they this late in
this late year?
The most remarkable thing about the riparian
area along Umtanum Rd just before U. creek crossing
was the abundance of Wilson's warblers. Every 50
yards there was another.
A quick visit Sunday morning to Robinson
Canyon yielded a MacGilvary's warbler, Vaux swift,
c. nighthawk, golden eagle, and a rattlesnake on the
road.
Bob Vandenbosch