Tweeters,

Recently returned from a trip to Quinault Indian Reservation to
explore my Father's two 40-acre parcels that were alotted to
him in the 1920's. The Quinault Reservation is well-supplied
with swamps and bogs and Baker's Prairie appears to be one
large bog rather than a prairie. Elk sign is everywhere. We
saw two Black Bear over the two days we spent roaming around.
Also, flushed a Blue Grouse at very close range.

South of the Sandpiper Motel near Pacific Beach, we were inspecting
a long dead and thoroughly decayed young Gray Whale when I noticed
a Peregrine Falcon perched on a snag atop the red clay bank that flanks
the beach. It flew down the beach a ways before I could get my
scope trained on it. When I did, I found it very light-colored
underneath, virtually immaculate. I would have called it an anatum
though our coastal birds are generally pealei.

A few Brown Pelicans worked the waters while we were there. They are
becoming so numerous in Washington waters, I am beginning to think
that last year's invasion of Puget Sound by Brown Pelicans had more
to do with simple range expansion than El Nino. I guess we'll see
what this year brings to help provide further insight.

Kelly McAllister