Hello all -
Having read Kerry Turley's message about Toppenish NWR yesterday, I
decided to spend today exploring roughly the same route. It was a
beautiful day, sunny & clear from sunrise to sunset.

High points for the day:

RUFFED GROUSE: A pair hiding out along Marion Drain Rd, a little east
of where it ends at Pom Pom. They were on the south side of the road,
~8 ft up in cluster of branches just east of where the road crosses a
small creek in the only wooded patch in the area [for easy locating,
this spot is even marked in green in DeLorme pg.36 B-3]. One didn't
stay around for long, but the other was still perched in the same
spot ~2 hrs later when I came back through.

LEWIS'S WOODPECKER: Dozens hanging out in Fort Simcoe State Park all
around the old fort buildings [and for a couple miles before then
along the road-side telephone poles]. Gorgeous birds, and quite easy
to get good looks at as they sallyed around for insects.

YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD: 2 among a large flock of mostly Red-winged
Blackbirds [and some Brewers]. The flock was moving quite a bit, but
the general location for viewing was from Lateral C road, between the
intersection with Pumphouse Rd. & the bridge.

Beyond those, I was also quite happy with many great looks at
Am.Kestrels, several N.Harriers, a few Bald Eagles, and a couple
Cooper's Hawks. 2 or 3 Northern Shrikes hung out long enough for me
to get good looks. I bumped into 3 flocks of California Quail,
looking as odd as ever. Western Meadowlarks sang from the sage,
Black-billed Magpies chattered & swooped, and Western Scrub Jays &
Stellers Jays tried to distract me from the Lewis's Woodpeckers at
Ft.Simcoe.

Thanks for the inspiration, Kerry --

Matt Bartels,
Seattle, WA



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