Dear Tweeters,

Thanks to all who helped out directly (by repsonding to my RFI) or
indirectly (by posting their sightings on Tweeters) with my recent
Washington trip. I'd started emailing some people who'd replied
individually, but have rather lost track of who I have and haven't.
My days of birding were 4th-7th July; rest of the time I was stuck in
a conference in Seattle. I ended up spending rather too much time
driving and not enough birding, but had a great time and saw/heard
117 spp. In addition to birds, I really enjoyed the scenery (hadn't
realised they'd be quite some many dramatic vistas of snowy
mountains) and giant trees (many - eg. W Hemlock, W Rd Cedar, Doug
Fir, Sitka Spruce - familiar to me as forestry and garden trees in
the UK, where I'm orig from)

First went out E to try and see the Great Gray Owls. This was
something of a bogey bird for me. Unfortuntaely it remains so, though
could hear the young calling down over the hillside at around mile
9.5 on Biscuit Ridge Road. Still, it was a great spot with a weird
(to me) mix of birds (Grasshopper Sparrow, Laz Bunting, Ruffed
Grouse, Pileated Woodpecker etc), great views, Phoebus Parnassian
butterflies. Also fewer biting insects than in other places where
I've failed to see GGOwls! Also in the east, it was nice to see E
Kingbird, Caspian Terns, White Pelicans, Magpies, and to see the
changes in vegetation between the Pacific forests, the interior
forests (not SO different to parts of AZ in vegetation, but
definitely so in birds) and the sagebrush areas.

Spent Sat on the Olympic Peninsula. Had Northwestern Crow (or at
least crows that sound like the NW Crows on the Peterson CD, rather
unsatisfying lifer) without much difficulty in a few places. As I was
advised, this is most convincing if you play the Am Crow and NW Crow
tapes to yourself immed after hearing a real Crow sp.. Great scenic
views from Hurricane ridge, where also heard Blue Grouse. From Cape
Flattery saw 2 Tufted Puffins as soon as I arrived at the cliff edge
- life birds! Also went to Hoh rainforest - not many birds but nice
trees and did have another R Grouse and an Osprey nest. Sun went on a
Menzies project cruise from Pt Townsend to Protection Is and Sequim
Bay. Good for alcids inc great views of Puffins. Really good despite
the cold and rain.

If anyone needs / wants any more info, I've got more tedious details
and a list written up that I can send.
Thanks again, and if anyone needs any AZ info, please feel free to email me.

Cheers
Steve


Dr Stephen Barlow
Department of Chemistry
University of Arizona
1306 E. University Blvd., Box 210041
Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Phone: 520 626 1317
Fax: 520 621 8407
email: sbarlow at email.arizona.edu