About 2 1/2 years ago, before we started birding, I was flying my
radio controlled glider from a slope about 1 1/2 horizontal miles and
about 500 feet vertical from the Columbia river about 5 miles below
the Grand Coulee Dam, or up there on a hill. :-)

I thought the previous information as to the habitat may help in the
ID of the bird I saw at that time. The area is very dry and rocky with
bunch grass and some sagebrush. Since I was not a birder then, I don't
have much info. but thought it may be interesting to find out what the
possibilities are.

The bird had a nest on the ground that was hollowed out near a small
(2 feet high) bush and a clump of grass. There were two chicks in the
nest. When the bird flushed it did the broken wing act like a
Killdeer, but was not a Killdeer. From what I remember it sounded
similar to a Killdeer. The bird appeared to be more buff colored (
like a Baird's) with a little longer straight beak and maybe longer
legs then a Killdeer. It was not as heavy as a Common Snipe.

I realize this is not much to go on, but maybe it can be narrowed down
by the habitat it was nesting in.

Jerry and Sandy Converse
Grand Coulee, WA
mailto:sanjer at televar.com
http://ConverseCorner.com

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember, amateurs built the Ark and
Professionals built the Titanic.