..................Saw 5 Townsend Warblers fluttering around in the upper
reaches of a Sitka spruce outside the window of the motel room Sunday
just north of Long Beach, Wash. (......some of them came down to eye
level and mingled with several Ore. Juncos). ----These Warblers are "a
first" for me!!!!
..................The thrill of seeing a "lifer" was only surpassed by
the gazing in awe at 2 mature Bald Eagles perched side-by-side on the
top of a tall Sitka Spruce. They stayed there for a long time gazing out
over the waters of Willapa Bay in Leadbetter State Park---Long Beach
Pen. Awesome!!!!!! Were still there together when I left.
..................Heading back home Sun.( at dusk) I observed another
"feast for the eyes:. Just west of Deep River on Hwy. 4 (a few miles
east of Naselle, Wash.) I saw 30-40 large elk grazing in a field. Seeing
elk of themselves is not so unusual----but so *many* of them in one
place!!! Wow!!
..................The birding itself wasn't that spectacular this time
around, but what I saw was "quality". Sometimes it's the little things
in life that are the most awesome!!!
...................Oh, by the way, the new spotting scope is on its way
and the binos. I have chosen are temporarily backordered. More on this
in another message. I *will* get to all those birders who were seeking
info. on optics. Still got those e-mails.
....................If any wants to offer suggestions or opinions on a
good quality tripod, I am "all ears".(....the one I have now wouldn't be
capable of *solidly* supporting my new scope!!! ----be a "sacrilege" to
mate such a "piece of junk" with such superb optics!!!!!!!!!.

....................Cheers!!!
Gerald Hamilton
Brush Prairie, Wash.
gerald at e-z.net