Subject: [Tweeters] PRAIRIE FALCON and VEERY - Cle Elum
Date: May 30 19:40:22 2009
From: johntubbs at comcast.net - johntubbs at comcast.net





Hi everyone,



Sharon Cormier-Aagaard and I did some birding in the afternoon in the Cle Elum area following the WOS board meeting in Ellensburg?today.? Conditions were a little sub-optimal, since it was in the afternoon and there was also a stiff breeze blowing, but we did have some good birds.? We were checking the cliffs along Highway 10 between Cle Elum and Thorp?when a PRAIRIE FALCON conveniently soared along the cliff and perched near the top for very nice looks.? We watched it for some time, hoping to see a stoop after one of the many swallows feeding along the cliffs, but the bird appeared content to just sit and watch.?



At the marshy area near the Cle Elum end of Highway 10 we had three warbler species - Yellow, MacGillivray's and Nashville with the last two being clearly heard multiple times, but not seen.? A Bullock's Oriole and at least two Black-headed Grosbeaks were vocalizing near the bridge.



The railroad ponds in Cle Elum and the nearby fish hatchery were productive.? Sharon heard a VEERY which responded instantly to one tape call, flew in and?perched close for excellent looks - this was in the thicket near the hatchery road, on the I-90 side of the ponds access road.? There were also several Barrow's Goldeneye on the ponds themselves, along with both Hooded and Common Mergansers (and Mallards, of course).? The Ospreys from the Cle Elum exit nest were both active, and one flew back to the nest with a trout while we were there.?



As a final note, the hatchery?summer welcome?hosts have two hummingbird feeders out.? We spoke with the woman and she indicated her husband had seen an unusual hummingbird earlier today with 'colored streaks' on its neck - certainly sounds like a male Calliope.? However, the only hummers we saw while there were two Rufous males.?



John Tubbs

Snoqualmie, WA

johntubbs at comcast.net

www.tubbsphoto.com

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