Hi, Tweeters,

Bill and I were inspired by a report by Michael Hobbs on a trip
he made earlier in May to do some birding around Cle Elum. Michael and his
group had seen eight warbler species on that day and we thought we'd have a
go at seeing how many we could find. Our first stop was the beautiful NP
Pond just east of South Cle Elum. By far the most numerous bird species
there was Yellow-rumped Warbler. There were most likely thousands,
fly-catching over the pond and eating insects out of the trees. Also
present in much smaller numbers were Yellow Warbler and Wilson's Warbler.
We also heard Common Yellowthroat.

After visiting the "Feeder House" near Cle Elum, we headed up
the Cle Elum River valley and stopped for lunch at Cle Elum River CG. The
Cle Elum reservoir is quite high this time of year, so the alder trees along
the shore all have their feet in the water. Along with a Belted Kingfisher
and Mountain Bluebird in these trees, we spotted an Orange-crowned Warbler.
In the campground fir trees, we found Townsend's Warbler and Black-throated
Gray Warbler.

Later in the day on Taylor Road, which leaves Hwy. 10 east of
Cle Elum and goes around the lower part of Lookout Mountain, while we were
trying to find a Hammond's Flycatcher we could hear singing, we had a
Nashville Warbler jump our of an elderberry bush in front of us. So with a
bit of luck we saw our eight warbler species, probably the most we've ever
seen in a day except when we've been birding in Texas!



Happy birding, Charlotte Byers