In a message dated 98-07-29 17:57:46 EDT, Amy McQuade writes:

<<
Most notable bird species: SPRUCE GROUSE, at Hurricane Ridge, (2); CASSIN'S
AUKLET (1), >>

I am rushing to get ready to leave for our motor home trip to Atlantic
Canada but want to comment on these birds. SPRUCE GROUSE is a mythical bird in
the Olympics, by which I mean it gets reported but apparently like a the
phantom Big Foot is never well documented. Amy, any details would be
appreciated as to why this was not just another BLUE GROUSE. Also, if anyone
knows of solid references to SPRUCE GROUSE on the Peninsula, I would be
delighted to get them. We occasionally get claims of them on such things as
Christmas Counts. I asked Bill Tweit about Spruce Grouse here and he said he
would not accept anything but a good photograph. However, a good description
would at least make some of the skeptics think a bit.
CASSIN'S AUKLET is a less mythic bird, only being a mythic county bird for
me and they nest on the oceanside offshore stacks regularly. They are seen
from time to time in the Strait but almost never from shore. Details on this
sighting and why it was not the locally abundant MARBLED MURRELET would be
appreciated.
Because of general interest, please post any replies to TWEETERS.
Bob Norton
norton360 at aol.com
Joyce (near Port Angeles), WA
(360) 928-3053
323 Salt Creek Road
Port Angeles, WA 98363