You take the Silica road exit as if you were going to the Gorge. The road to
Frenchmans Coulee splits off to the left from the wellpaved Gorge Road. It
is a much narrower, less-well-cared for road. At a guess, I'd say we were a
quarter to a half a mile down the road from the split. We saw it flying
among some trees in the swampy areas on the right side of the road (when you
are heading to the coulee.)
The directions to the coulee from "A Guide To Bird-Finding in Washington"
read,"Take exit 143 off I-90 E from Vantage at the top of the plateau, cross
under I-90 and go to the small "oasis" of Frenchman Springs-a few houses
surrounded by trees." Watch for the little road off the well-kept road. I
think it is just past the houses but my mind is clouded from post-successful
birding tripitis.
I hope this helps. I am cc'ing it to tweets to help others. Good Luck! There
was also a virginia rail's nest with mom and chicks right by the road in
this swampy bit so be careful of them.
Rahne Kirkham
Federal Way, Washington
rahnek at foxinternet.com
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle."
Philo
----- Original Message -----
From: "Doug Schonewald" <dschone8 at bentonrea.com>
To: <rahnek at foxinternet.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2003 05:21 AM
Subject: RE: Grant County Scissor Tailed Flycatcher


> Rahne,
> Can you give any more specific details at to the location? Such as Rd
name?
> South or north of the freeway? I am from the area, but I am not familiar
> with 'Frenchman's Coulee'. I looked for 5 hours yesterday and must not
have
> been in the right place. Thanks in advance.
>
> Doug Schonewald
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu
> [mailto:TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu]On Behalf Of Rahne Kirkham
> Sent: Saturday, May 17, 2003 11:19 PM
> To: Rob Conway
> Cc: tweeters
> Subject: Re: Grant County Scissor Tailed Flycatcher
>
>
> Rob:
> I was just passing through the same area today and My niece, grandniece
and
> I saw the scissor-tailed flycatcher too! For us, it was on the road to
> Frenchman's Coulee which is very near the road to the Gorge and Ephrata.
> Whoopee!
> Rahne Kirkham
> Federal Way, Washington
> rahnek at foxinternet.com
> "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle."
> Philo
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rob Conway" <robin_birder at hotmail.com>
> To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
> Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2003 02:46 PM
> Subject: Grant County Scissor Tailed Flycatcher
>
>
> > Tweets,
> >
> > As a passenger on the long drive from Bellevue to Ephrata this morning I
> was
> > able to do a lot of birdwatching along the way. The driver was amused
as
> I
> > called out and logged birds until I screamed "STOP THE CAR AND TURN
> AROUND"
> > when I spotted a Scissor Tailed Flycatcher on a utility wire between
> George
> > and Ephrata in Grant County, WA. The bird was spotted at about 8:45 AM
> near
> > mile post 4 on Highway 283 on the right side of the road (headed toward
> > Ephrata) near a farm house with a big row of poplar trees and a number
of
> > sheep in a pen between the house and the road. I observed the bird for
> > about 10 minutes with binoculars during which time it hawked at least 4
> > flying insects.
> >
> > My notes: a definite Tyrannidae flycatcher. I called out kingbird at
> first
> > glance from 100 or so yards away. Extremely long black tail with white
> > outer feathers. Pale grey head and flanks, white underparts with quite
> pink
> > flanks. Wings very dark grey to black. Tail feathers have extremely
> clean
> > edges - no wear indicating caging. Estimate at 12" long. No calls.
> Hawked
> > insects from utility wire. No mistaking this bird - have seen dozens in
> > Oklahoma and Texas.
> >
> > I never expected to see this bird in Washington!
> >
> > Rob Conway
> > Newcastle, WA and Calgary, Alberta
> >
> > robin_birder at hotmail.com
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
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> >
>
>
>