(Nothing of substance follows, just musings about an unusual birding
experience)

Just returned from a thirteen day, 6,000 mile Amtrak vacation
(Seattle/Chicago/New Orleans/LA/Seattle). Birding from a train moving at 80
MPH might best be referred to as "Flash Card Birding." It was a great
opportunity to test my quick ID skills (they are not very good!).

When the train slowed or stopped on a side-track, the birding was great.

Didn't keep a list, but there were some interesting sightings:

Ferruginous Hawks across Montana

An impressive egret rookery in Louisiana, with many sightings of Great,
Snowy, and Cattle egrets in the fields and swamps.

Laughing Gull in New Orleans.

A close-up of a male Cardinal in Texas (I still think of them sitting in
snow on Christmas cards)

Chihuahuan Ravens in Texas.

Many interesting species as we moved slowly along Klamath Lake: White
Pelicans, Sandhill Cranes, Black Crowned Night Herons, breeding pairs of
Western Grebe.

Most ubiquitous species all around the country was the Mouring Dove, with
Turkey Vultures a close second.

Biggest dissapointment... no Road Runners.

By the way, even the best binoculars are useless through grimy windows at
speeds above 5 MPH on a rough stretch of track.

All in all, however, a great vacation experience!




Grant Hendrickson
Redmond, WA
granth at halcyon.com