> On Tue, 20 Oct 1998 Denny Granstrand wrote:
>
> > ... It is real work to look for SPGR. It definately is not for the
faint-of-heart. You really have to want to see one to go searching. Unless
you are among the lucky ones who happens to see one right along the forest
road.
>
I guess I was among one of the luck ones--for once! On Sept. 27 I saw my
"lifer" SPGR at Meadows Campground, at approx. 7000", near Slate Peak,
Okanogan Co., WA. During an early morning walk around the campground I
flushed 3 SPGR that were near the road, one adult male, and two others,
perhaps one female and one juvenile (unsure of these two.) I went back to
camp to get my companion, Joe Mackie, and together we got within 4' of the
male (Franklin's), who was happily eating some sort of seeds from the
campground road and quite oblivious to us. This bird would be easy to catch
with your hands, much less to shoot.

I had heard how difficult it is to find SPGR, but was amazed how easy these
birds were to see. Just a matter of being in the right place at the right
time.

Nancy Taylor
Bellingham
ntaylor at pacificrim.net