Having always wanted to see and identify a peregrine falcon, I was really
excited last weekend to finally do so, and I thought I'd share the
experience. (I have identified them on the video monitor at the
Washington Mutual on visits to Seattle, but a hard-and-fast rule in my
bird observations is to discount identifications made on television...)

I chose a good weekend to hike into the Goat Rocks, and was camped with my
wife and daughter at 6300' a couple of miles north of Old Snowy and about
a half mile off the Crest Trail. The bluff we camped on had a miniature
alpine forest on top through which many small migrating birds were
passing. I'd twice seen a raptor diving and flaring above
another bluff covered with 6-8' trees, which I suspected to be a
peregrine but wanted a REALLY good look to convince myself. I got my wish
when waking from an afternoon nap I looked up and the falcon was perched
10 feet directly over my head at the top of a snag, and stayed there for
almost 2 hours. Later we saw this bird with two others (one lacking the
distinctive facial markings, and entirely brown streaked- an immature?)
flying together over another section of the basin. What a rush!

On another front, I have more information about Newcastle disease killing
DC cormorants in Ontario now as well as Saskatchewan if anyone is
interested. Contact me and I'll e-mail the blurb.

Tom Besser
Phone: (509) 335-6075
FAX: (509) 335-8529
e-mail: tbesser at vetmed.wsu.edu