This is a bit late, but I went down to Ft Simcoe last Wed to check on the
Lewis' Woodpeckers. Previous reports ere not exaggerations -- there must
have been about a hundred of them busily setting up nesting cavities. One
interesting thing was apparent competition between two Lewis' and a
Flicker. A determined Flicker was busily enlarging a hole in one of the
oak trees while the pair of the Lewis' flapped agitatedly around him
without being able to dislodge him. Not too many other birds, but there
were Meadowlarks, White-crowned Sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Harriers,
and a lot of Robins. I was also struck by the number of Spotted Towhees
along the perimeter road. Their call was a bit different from the ones I
observe in W WA.

After the fort, I stopped at Toppenish NWR. From the observation platform
near the highway I saw a good variety of ducks, including Cinnamon Teal.
Walking back to the HQ area I passed a large flock of Goldfinches in the
trees along the road, California Quail, Pheasants, White-crowned Sparrows,
and saw American Avocets, BN Stilts, and a Snipe at the marsh. On the way
back to the car I found a Great Horned Owl sitting next to a stick nest in
a tree behind the HQ building. It did not seem to mind my stopping to take
some pictures. No nestling visible. There is also a Kestral using one of
the nesting boxes.

Chuck Pell,
Seattle