To tweeters and Dennis Rockwell,

Green-tailed Towhees are easier to find in southeast Walla Walla Co. Both
on the dry slopes of Lewis Peak and Biscuit Ridge. Wenatchee Guard Station
is higher in elevation and I have looked for the towhees there several times
before finally finding a juv. last Aug. (8-8-99). Marv Breece and I had 1
juv. there by playing the tape very early in the morning after sleeping up
there and seeing quite a few Blue Grouse.

Here are my first dates for Walla Walla Co. records of Green-tailed Towhees.
First found them on Lewis Peak on July 4, 1977. After 10 years away from
Walla Walla I began refinding them.

5-9-87 Lewis Peak
6-22-89 Lewis Peak
6-4-90 Lewis Peak
6-17-91 Biscuit Ridge
5-23-92 Biscuit Ridge
6-4-93 Biscuit Ridge
6-13-94 Biscuit Ridge
6-13-95 Biscuit Ridge
6-14-97 Biscuit Ridge

To get to Biscuit Ridge turn off of Hwy 12 at Dixie on Dry Creek Rd. Go
exactly 10.0 miles (last 7 is dirt and steep). Stop and walk down the hill
to your right. The birds are in the brush on the steepest part of the
hillside about half way down. They like to sing from the tops of the bushes
(lots of Snow Berry in area). Spotted Towhees are in the large clumps of
brush above the Green-tailed Towhee's habitat.

Lewis Peak requires even more steep cross county hiking. You should hear
them long before you see them as they are sneaky.

Ken Knittle, Gold Bar, WA
xenops at msn.com