Tweeters,

On a Yakima Valley Audubon Society fieldtrip 19 February, we observed 20
BARN SWALLOWS from Lateral C (fields west of road just north of Toppenish
Creek, the "Bobolink fields"). The temperature was in the low 40s with a
steady breeze from the northeast. This is the earliest "spring" arrival in
Yakima County (earliest 19 April) that I'm aware of. This is the swallow
reported most often in winter (Birds of Washington. Wahl et al.). Most
winter reports according to this reference, have been in western Washington,
with far fewer from east of the Cascades.

We wish the best for these birds but wonder what challenges the coming weeks
pose, with probably many nights of sub-freezing temperatures.

On time with its arrival were three SAY'S PHOEBES along Marion Drain Road
east of Lateral A.

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA
steppie at nwinfo.net