Since posting my tweeter note on Black River sightings, I've had a number of
inquiries about the report of Lewis' woodpeckers from Kris Baker and I.
Kris saw one about a month ago when we paddled just a short distance from
the WDFW public access ramp downstream from Little Rock; she's very certain
of her ID, having good familiarity with them when she lived in CA.

My sighting was downstream of the access by several miles, and was a brief
glimpse of the bird as it left a tree trunk and disappeared as I paddled my
kayak. I've seen many of them among the garry oaks above the Klickitat
River, where I would usually camp during my gorge windsurfing days. I took
it for granted that these woodpeckers were associated with garry oaks, and I
hadn't realized how the habitat of this species in WA had shrunk to where
their discovery in western WA would be considered exceptional. Now that I
read up on the history of them in WA, I'm realizing how special it might be.
Next time I'll not be so casual, and will reach for a camera and GPS.

Anyone else have recent information to share on Lewis' woodpeckers in
western WA?

On Friday I might consider paddling the Black River again, if I can tear
myself away from the purple martins on the Duwamish; the martins should be
fledging any day now.

Kevin Li
Seattle, WA
e-mail: kevin.li at metrokc.gov