I'm very tardy making a report -- due to other pressing matters. But some
of this may be of interest.

I birded eastern Washington from June 23 though 30. Nice weather.

If you like ground squirrels, try the trail to Tiffany Lake in the
Okanogan. The squirrels will "whistle" you to death. Then the Gray Jays
and Clark's Nutcrackers get after you and it's all over for other birds.
<G> Beautiful area!!!!

I was surprised to see a Blue Grouse in Robinson Canyon -- I would
have expected them to be at higher altitude. Until I come down out of the
canyon, drove over to I90, and had a meal at the "Blue Grouse" restaurant!
Shows what I know!

Saw Sharp-tailed Grouse at the satellite station near Brewster.

Gawd! Grouse seem like such dumb birds! In both cases above, the
female slowly "sneaks" across the road 10 feet in front of me -- then
assured that she wasn't seen by me, squeaks, and a half-dozen little
grouselings follow her. In Brewster, the family disappears into the sage
brush -- then mommy reappears, squeaks, and a final, truant, grouseling
runs across the road.

I was shocked when idly looking at a Western Grebe in the Okanogan River
at its mouth on the Columbia, to see the eye in the middle of bright white,
and a nice bright orange bill -- actually a Clark's Grebe.

There have been remarks lately re: Nighthawks. On the road to the
Wenas campground, from Wenas Lake all the way to the campground, I saw
Common Nighthawks in packs of about six up to a dozen. I stopped counting
at about 110 total. They were present all the way up to the campground,
and also all the way up the forest service road that passes the campground
on the east (north?). They were following the canyons of both Wenas Creek
(North Fork) and Dry Creek (the one at the campground). The Nighthawks
were present in the morning and then at mid-day. I put down my binoculars
and just watched them work for a while -- amazing critters.

In the Wenas area and Robinson Canyon I was disappointed to find
no flycatchers other than Western Wood-Pewees (all of which were nicely
calling, though). And really wanting Hammond's Flycatcher in the Okanogan,
I was skunked.

Reminder - free National Geographic Third Edition quick indexes
at <www.avisys.net>.

Jerry Blinn
Silverdale


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