Subject: Birding the high northern Blues
Date: Jun 11 13:34:03 2004
From: mike denny - m.denny at charter.net


Hello All,
This week I was out under the gray clouds, rain and snow!
Most Blue Mountain Neo-tropic migrants are in place and on territory. Close to 3.2 inches of precipitation fell in the northern Blue Mountains this week with temps ranging from 29-51degrees at 5200' elevation. I did witness some very interesting bird/weather related items. One was a lone Vaux's Swift near Wenatchee Guard Station, Asotin Co. out hawking insects at the trailing edge of a storm passing out over the Grande Ronde River Canyon, air temps hovered right at 49 degrees. This was the lowest air temp I have ever seen this species actively hunting or flying in. Then another item of interest was the discovery of a lone car with Canada (BC)plates way out in the middle of the forest after a heavy down-pour and there in isolated Asotin County was Wayne Weber out birding! Other interesting sightings were several small movements of "late" Western Tanagers and the discovery of a Warbling Vireo singing in a Doug fir-western larch forest near 5000' elevation with no broadleaf trees in sight. Could this be the Conifer Vireo? Take care.
Later Mike

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Mike & MerryLynn Denny
323 Scenic View Drive
College Place, WA 99324
509.529.0080 (h)

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BIRDING, YOU HAVEN'T LIVED!
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