I lead a pleasant S.A.S. trip for MOUNTAIN QUAIL yesterday (Sunday).
Many thanks to the people who offered advice on spots. The best
spot was the trail and dirt bike riding moguls at the west end of
SW Lakeview Blvd. just north of the Port Orchard Airport on
94th st. (Delorme atlas page 62). We had a covey of 8 or so
quail, with glimpses of the secretive critters. They didn't respond
well to the tape I played other than to call back.
I did, however, get some good looks on my scouting trip the day
before. I tried unsuccessfully to decide which race they represented,
brown or gray. The hind neck was gray, with tannish brown on the mantle.

For those tweeters interested in finding the quail, take exit 132 off
I-5 and proceed 13.2 miles on SR16 (over the Tacoma narrows bridge).
Take a right onto 302 W (just after mile post 15) and drive 1.3 miles.
Make the left turn over the bridge (also 302 W) and go 2.6 miles.
Take a right onto 94th NW, go 3.8 miles to the intersection with
SW Lakeview Blvd. Turn left and park at the gate. The trail which leads
directly back into the woods can be walked for 100 yards or so until
an old red car has been junked on the left. This is the area where the
quail were spotted. Listen for them scurrying about in the surrounding
thicket, especially on the left just after the car in the woods and
Scotch Broom patch.

We also visited Belfair State Park briefly, and had a nice hike along
the dike through the marsh at the "Thelar Wetlands Nature Trails"
in Belfair. This produced several species such as RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER,
RING-BILLED GULL, BALD EAGLE, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, etc.
We ended up with a rather modest trip list of 40 species.

Neil J. Fergusson ******************
1405 1/2 NE 56th St. * Baffins *
Seattle, WA 98105 * or *
(206) 517-5466 * bust *
cccc at u.washington.edu ******************