Yesterday (11/1/95), I easily located three Acorn Woodpeckers on Belch
Road, west of Lyle. I have known of the reported colony "near Lyle" and
that the location might be sensitive because of the Western Pond Turtles
in Belch Pond. However, having visited the location, I can't see how that
could be a concern. Belch Road is a public road, the pond lies right
beside the road (20-30 feet). There is a fence on each side of the road
that has "No Trespassing" in clear view. At the west end of Belch Road
there is plenty of room to park your car. A short walk back towards the
pond, a quarter of a mile at the most, should produce the woodpeckers.
There is no reason that anyone should have to leave the public road at all
for a really excellent birding experience. If you go there please respect
the no trespassing signs.

There were many Steller's and Scrub Jays and a few Golden-crowned Sparrow
there as well. Down the road at Maryhill, there were a few Lesser Gold
Finches in the orchards along the river.

My travels also took me down to the Blue Mts. and Asotin County. On
Monday we saw a total 15 Golden Eagles, the bigest one day total that I
have tallied. Also on Monday, in Garfield County, at around 4000 feet in
elevation, on Forest Service Road 40, we saw a group of about 12 Western
Bluebirds. I thought this was an unusal elevation for this time of year.

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Russell Rogers
4510 Glenn Way SW
Seattle, WA 98116
(206) 935-6280
rrogers at halcyon.com
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