Saturday (9/1) I took my sister., Lora Sinisi and her husband Lon Butcher
(from Oregon) birding in Washington. We left Seattle at 5AM and headed for
Blaine. Jack Kintner had given me good directions and information about
Drayton Harbor. On arrival we saw a COOPER'S HAWK, GREATER YELLOWLEGS,
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, COMMON TERNS (about 25 at that
time) and CASPIAN TERNS. While scoping the harbor we were joined by Ken and
Laurie Knittle. After anther trip to the boat launch and still no SNOWY
EGRET.

On Ken's suggestion, we headed for downtown where we could look down over
the harbor. Immediately, Ken spied the SNOWY EGRET.

Soon thereafter, we left Ken and Laurie and headed for eastern Washington
for shorebirds and owls. After a minor delay at Schucks in Bellingham,
where we purchased and installed an alternater on the Subaru (and am I glad
we did!) we were on our way again.

At about 8:00PM we arrived at the site near 4 corners (Colockum Rd, Kittitas
County) where Carol Schulz and Charlie Wright (thanks for the directions)
saw and heard BOREAL OWLS. We didn't find BOREAL OWLS. But........ We
started to owl at 8:30PM and had abolutely nothing (except the wonderful
bugeling of bull Elk) until 10:00PM. Then, almost magically, 2 SAW-WHET
OWLS began to call at close range. Then a third. Between the three of us
we saw 2 of these birds in the moon light. 2 GREAT HORNED OWLS hooted
repeatedly close by. As we were growing weary just before midnight, a
BARRED OWL belted out "who cooks for you" as loudly and clearly as one
could hope for. All three of these owl species were in close proximity to
each other at the same time. Once again, what I have heard about no other
owl species being in an area where there are Great-horned owls has proven
untrue in my experience.

On our way down the hill towards Ellensburg Sunday we spooked an immature
GOSHAWK.

Now on to shorebirds, ...... mostly. Here's a brief summary of our birds
for Sunday, 9/2.

Quincy STP
LEAST SANDPIPER
WESTERN SANDPIPER
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER-20
PECTORAL SANDPIPER-3
SPOTTED SANDPIPER-4
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE-2

Dodson Road & Frenchman Hills Rd near the intersection
BLACK-NECKED STILT-3
GREATER YELLOWLEGS-2
LESSER YELLOWLEGS-1
GREAT EGRET-4
WHITE PELICAN-1
SPOTTED SANDPIPER-2
LONG BILLED DOWITCHER-3
WESTERN SANDPIPER-12

Potato Ponds ( Othello)
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE-12
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER-40+
GREATER YELLOWLEGS-2

Ponds NE of Para Ponds viewed from above along the canal
WHITE PELICAN-5

It was a good trip.

Marv Breece
Seattle, WA