Hi tweeters,

Just got back from my annual flyfishing trip to the Lake Lenore area. I even
caught a fly this year. The fishing was fabulous on Blue Lake and at Rocky
Ford Creek...and the birding was equally as good.

On Friday as I drove north from Soap Lake on highway 17 I observed a large
colony of CLIFF SWALLOWS on the cliff face the lake. They looked lika a swarm
of gnats there were so many. As I got to the north end of Lake Lenore
something caught ny eye in a marsh on the right side of the road. I stopped
and saw a pair of AMERICAN AVOCETS, also on the marsh were MALLARDS, CINNAMOM
TEAL, and CANADA GEESE. The AVOCETS were still there yesterday afternoon as I
was heading home.

At Rocky Ford Creek, down Hatchery Road off highway 17, south of soap Lake on
saturday morning I saw a PELAGIC CORMORANT land in a large cottonwood above
the fish hatchery. Ther e were also a couple CASPIAN TERNS working the lower
pond.

Our wake up call Sunday morning was provide by a pair of FREAT HORNED OWLS at
4:00 am, as they passed through the camp ground. The males "who who who oo oo"
from about 15 feet over my tent trailer was sure loud. The female was a bit
further away, but they were keeping in touch. The marsh behind the campground
was alive with RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS. The lake in
front of the fish cleaning station has a flosk of CALIFORNIA GULLS and lots of
RING-BILLED GULLS were around also.

All in all a great trip. Got to enjoy two of my favorite things.

Next trip is to Neah Bay the 14th through the 17th of this month. Should see
more new species for the year.

Phil Kelley
Lacey, WA
scrbjat at aol.com