On Saturday we drove from our weekend home in Suncadia to the railroad ponds in South Cle Elum. Heading into South Cle Elum you turn to the right under the freeway bridge (just before the Yakima River). Since the weather was cold and rainy these birds were seen from the comfort of my car:
Nashville Warbler
Yellow Rumped Warbler
Barrow's Goldeneye
Widgeon
Downy Woodpecker
Canada Geese
Ring-Necked Duck
Violet-Green Swallows
Red Winged Blackbirds
A. Robin
S. Towhee
Hooded Merganser
A pair of Wood Ducks (beautiful)
MacGillivray's Warbler
Turkey Vulture
Great Blue Heron
C. Raven
Also a small hawk but did not get a good look. I did not see the Osprey but know they are in the area.

For anyone interested in forest birds Suncadia (take the Roslyn/Salmon La Sac exit and at the roundabout turn into Suncadia) is alive with birds. There is a paved walkway that runs through the area. Please do not walk on the golf cart paths. Ask at the Greeters Cottage as you enter they will give you a map of the area. You can see the paths from the road so drive through the development to get a feel for where you would like to walk, park at one of the neighborhood parks or lodge and start walking the paths and roads. As long as you stay off the main road to the lodge there isn't much traffic. We saw a Red-breasted Nuthatch at a nest hole today on our morning walk. There are lots of Pine Siskin at our feeders along with Evening Grosbeaks, White-crowned Sparrows, Spotted Towhees, Steller's Jays and A. Goldfinches. While having lunch at the lodge today we saw close up views of raven, turkey vulture and a Bald Eagle as they flew by. There are lots more birds in the area including warblers.

Donna Ferrill
Mill Creek/Cle Elum/La Quinta