Hello Tweets,

I have a few questions for the Washington birders, all answers will be
appreciated.

1.) Redheads - BBA data show 2 confirmed west-side locations for breeding:
T22R04E, NE, which is roughly Kent (Kent Ponds? or Angle Lake?), and
T29R06W, NE, which is Olympic NP (Heart-of-the-Hills and higher, maybe
Lake Dawn?). There have been a few errors in the database so far, and
I'm inclined to believe these are errors. Anybody know for sure if these
are good records? There are a few other observations, but these 2 have
confirmed breeding status. The Kent location also has a record for
Lesser Scaup. What is their west-side breeding range?

2.) To what extent do Red-necked Grebes nest in the northeast? There
are several observed/possible records up there, but very few
probable/confirmed. The same is true with Western Grebes. The only
confirmed locations are within the Columbia Basin. Is this poor coverage
or a truth about their distribution?

3.) Do Harlequin Ducks nest east of the Okanogan River? There is one
record (an observed/possible) from Salmo Pries Wilderness (NE of Sullivan
Lake), but no other records for the entire mountainous region east of the
Okanogan River, none from the Blues, and none in the Cascades south of
the Cispus River.

4.) Buffleheads have confirmed breeding in Deep Lake, northeastern
Stevens Co. There are several possible-status locations around Chesaw
(northern Okanogan County), and northwest of Winthrop. Do these regions
support breeding populations? And there is a confirmed record for
Bufflehead from the Turnbull region, I would take this to be an error,
but maybe Tweets know otherwise. The Okanogan/Methow region also
supports 4 confirmed breeding locales for Common Goldeneye (and one at
Deep Lake). Are these 'good'?

5.) Ospreys are scarce in the Columbia Basin. They occur at Columbia
NWR and near Vantage, and in the Yakima Valley, but appear to be absent
elsewhere. Is this a truth, or lack of coverage in the region?

Thanks for any help you can give, reply to me to avoid wasting
bandwidth. Thanks!

____________________________
Mike Smith
Univ. of Washington, Seattle
whimbrel at u.washington.edu