Dear All

I'm writing this from the UK but I'll be visiting Washington next week, for a couple of weeks. I wonder whether anyone could offer me any advice on seeing a few particular birds?

I've done a fair amount of birding around the states and so my interest in particularly in seeing good regional specialities. I've got a copy of Wahl and Paulson that has been very useful.

I fly to Seattle and am considering driving a loop from there on the US2 to Lake Wentchee/Icicle Creek/Chumstick Canyon area then down on US 97 to the Swauk Pass/Blewett Pass area then on to Mount Rainier via the Wena Creek/Oak Creek Canyon area. At Mount Rainier I'm thinknig to head to Sunrise. After this loop we (my wife and I) will head to the coast and Olympic NP.

I'd be very grateful for any hints or recent good sites for seeing any of the following:

Any Grouse (!), Mountain Quail, WT Ptarmigan, Lewis', Three-toed, White-headed or Black-backed Woodpecker, Red-naped or Red-headed Sapsucker, any Owl (!) Varied Thrush, Evening Grosbeak, Gray Jay, Hammonds flycatcher, Lazuli buntings, Black & Vaux's Swift and Rosy Finch.

I fly out on Friday so I'd be grateful for any hints before then! We'll be camping, so I'd also be very grateful for nice suggestions of places to stay in the areas I plan to visit!

Thanks in advance

yours
Nick Brickle
Nottingham, UK
nick at brickle.com

ps. if anyone ever wants a good site for Ruff, Little Stint, Spotted Redshank, Bar & Black-tailed Godwit etc. let me know!