Tweets - The 4th Cle Elum CBC was held last Tuesday, December 16th. I was
graced with 23 people total for the count, 14 from around Seattle and 9 from
eastern Washington. The day was gorgeous, with a few inches of fresh snow,
beautiful sunshine, and little wind. The most notable thing about the
weather, though, were the temperatures. Scott reported minus 6 F up the
Teanaway. It was -3 when we left the Sunset Cafe at 8:00 a.m. In town, it
warmed to the low teens in mid-day. BRRRR.

Overall, we recorded a bit lower than average total number of birds, at just
under 3000. For our species count, we managed 66 species, plus 4 more count
week birds. So, at 70, that's a new record for the Cle Elum CBC!

New for the count were a PRAIRIE FALCON above SR-10; seven EURASIAN
COLLARED-DOVES and 150 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in South Cle Elum; and a PILEATED
WOODPECKER reported by the Liberty sector team. Two of the count week birds
were also new for the count - PINE GROSBEAK on the 13th in Cle Elum, and
TURKEY VULTURE near Elk Heights on the 15th.

So the cumulative Cle Elum CBC species count, over the four years, is now at
89 species.

Notably, we had 8 RUFFED GROUSE, six of them together in South Cle Elum; 8
GOLDEN EAGLES, scattered around the eastern sections of the count circle; 6
GREAT HORNED OWLS, 3 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS, and high counts for most
woodpeckers and chickadees

Thanks to everyone who took part!

== Michael Hobbs
== Kirkland, WA
== http://www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
== http://www.marymoor.org/BirdBlog.htm
== birdmarymoor at verizon.net