Dear Tweeters,
Yesterdays (3/10) gorgeous weather, sunny and in the mid-60's,
brought a first of the season Say's Phoebe to my yard in Ellensburg.
A long walk up Umtanum Creek from the Yakima River also produced
courting Northern Harriers, Red-tailed Hawks, and American Kestrels.
One other species of note along Umtanum Creek drainage was a large-ish
flock of Bushtits (~20 birds).

This morning (3/11) the windblown snowflakes and mid-40's temperatures
brought another Say's Pheobe to Helen McCabe State Park, along with a
flock of ~25 first of the season Tree Swallows. Also present at Helen
McCabe SP were vocalizing Audubon's Warblers (still in basic plumage),
and a vocalizing pair of Green-winged Teal. Spring is here ? at least
the birds think so!

Cheers,
Walter Szeliga
Ellensburg, WA