AMERICAN AVOCETS and BLACK-NECKED STILTS were found Monday (6/16) at three
different locations in Adams and Grant Counties where I had never seen them
before. Since these were all so obvious and I've not visited there in a few
years, my apologies if this is old news and everyone knows about them
already.

Adams Co: Othello; 3 miles north on McManamon Road from state route 26
(DeLorme p.53, T16N, R29E, NE corner Sect.28). 16-20 AMERICAN AVOCETS and
9-13 BLACK-NECKED STILTS. Except for two B-N STILTS in the pond right along
the road, the birds were in the second "pond" south and west of the road
(visible only from the pullout at the top of the grade along the railroad
tracks and across the road from the "Seneca" warehouse). The dikes along
there are posted "No Trespassing" so I didn't. Also, there were at least 6
WHITE PELICANS (very hard to see behind a clump of grass) in the
northern-most pond on the north side of the road at this location. This also
looks like a great spot to make as a matter of routine when visiting this
area to check for wandering or vagrant waders like Cattle Egret, White-faced
Ibis, et.al. Looks perfect to me, and I'll wager that some interesting birds
turn up here from time to time.

Grant Co: 10.5 miles west of Othello along state route 26 (DeLorme p.53,
T16/15N, R27E, center south/north sect.36/1) Rt.26 crosses a little pond
with birds on both sides of the road. AMERICAN AVOCETS (6), BLACK-NECKED
STILTS (12). You'd have to be blind and deaf (or totally oblivious) to miss
these ones. Slow down, and try not to hit one.

Grant Co: ~15 miles west of Othello on rt.26, and one mile south on road "A
SE" (Columbia NWR), T16N, RR27E, NE corner Sect.30. A few birds seen flying
around way far out over the marshes just before sunset. Too far away and
across dog infested private property to make any estimate with respect to
total numbers that may be present.

Richard Rowlett
Bellevue, WA