I traveled Sunday to try to find the cranes.
A few observations on the way. An osprey was sitting on the nest visible from
the freeway just west of Cle Elum on a power pole

The G. horned owl nest at Cariboo and vantage roads was empty. No
Grhowl at the usual site in Scnebbly (sp? canyon).

I then went down to SR 24 and ran Steppie's hawk route, with
disappointing and disastrous(see later) results. It was about 65 degrees
between 1 and 2:30 pm on April 11.
mp 16 nothing
mp 18 northern harrier 2
mp 20 red-tailed hawk 1
mp 22 redtailed 1
raven 6
mp24 nothing
mp 26 nothing
mp 28 raven 1

I then went back to Beverly and drove up Lower Crab creek. I like our
states integrated land planning. As you leave the Columbia there is a sign
saying Wild life viewing next 16 miles. But a few miles furthur another
sign points to all-terrain off road vehicle area, abuzz with noise and
dust. A hike in to Nunnally lake was pleasant with a number of
interesting wildflowers.

Continued on to Corfu and rd B SE, arriving about 5:30 pm. No cranes.
Went to the end of C SE and again no cranes. Saw two settling in the
distance north of SR 26. So these and one 9 miles west of Ellensburg
plaintively calling for its friends was it for cranes.

At the pond just ne of Canyon rd exit saw the swans mentioned by
other Tweeters. Went to the back of my car to pull out scope to see if
trumpeter or tundras. Whoops! No scope. Must have left it at one of MP on
SR 24. Got back to SR 24 at dusk. No scope. A pale-headed raptor on pole
MAY have been Ferruginous but couldnt ID in dark and was frantic about my
scope.

I enjoyed the trip in spite of disappointments and major loss.
Hoping that by improbable coincidence a Tweeter did the SR 24 route and
found a lonely scope.

Bob Vandenbosch