Michael Smith's message, sent about 7:00 last evening, says the Montlake
Ruff wasn't there a little earlier; and David Wright's message says it was
there from about 7 to 8:30. So Michael just left a little too early.
I've been involved in similar incidents. One day last summer we got to
Wenas Creek rather late in the afternoon and spent the night, hoping to
see White-headed Woodpeckers, and had no luck. When I got home, there was
a note on tweeters from someone who had seen two or three woodpeckers just
a couple of hours before we arrived. I have an impression that the
people who lead the expensive tours, like VENT, have a knack for being at
the right place at just the right time; I sometimes feel like I have just
the opposite knack. If anyone knows the Secret of Success (other than
being in the field full-time) or the Magic Incantation, I wish they'd
share it.

Burt Guttman guttmanb at elwha.evergreen.edu
The Evergreen State College Voice: 360-866-6000, x. 6755
Olympia, WA 98505 FAX: 360-866-6794