Netta and I spent today in the Umtanum and Wenas Creek valleys. Western Tanagers were everywhere, easily the most abundant bird in wooded or semiwooded habitats, and a fair number right out in the sagebrush. At one point there were about 10 of them feeding in alders in front of me along Umtanum Creek. Many of them flew up the creek in small groups, then later I saw a similar flight down the creek!

Recall they were similarly abundant east of the Cascades in southern Oregon last weekend. I am assuming these are birds that have dropped downhill because conditions are suboptimal for them up in the mountains. Either that or they are a spectacularly late migrant, and I didn't think that was the case. Along Umtanum Creek we saw a Yellow-rumped and a Townsend's Warbler, and neither of them breed there, also a Wilson's Warbler in another spot where I know they don't breed. So these are either still heading north to BC and/or Alaska on June 5 or are intending to go (back?) up into the mountains as the weather improves there. It was quite a surprise to see so many tanagers.

Western Tanagers are surely among our most common birds - nice to be able to say that about such a beauty.
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Dennis Paulson
1724 NE 98 St.
Seattle, WA 98115
206-528-1382
dennispaulson at comcast.net