My virgin posting to your chat group. I am one of those (albeit frugal and roughing it) eco-birders who packed her little tent and two bags and basically camped along the entire western peninsula (from Astoria to Oysterville to Ocean Shores to Kalaloch to Neah Bay to Sequim-Dungeness Spit to Port Townsend to Whidbey to Friday Harbour). I took public transit or ferry or hiked the total way (mid-August to September '03).



I had to work hard on my own and found the songbird sightings very low but I got a fair number of new ocean birds for a gal from the plains not used to Oystercatchers. It was surprising to find a Horned lark on Constitution Mountain in the San Juans when you are used to seeing them on the plains. Thanks to a guy named Russ with a scope, I got see the Ruff at 3-Crabs in Sequim.



This is my second visit in a row solely for the purpose (as are all my trips) for birding and would I return to Wa??? I have to say that unequivocally, I love Washington! As a camper, I find the west coast a bit of a turn-off around Vancouver 'cause you have to deal with the expanding 'city', but thanks to the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound etc. there is this natural barrier between Seattle and the Peninsula that makes it easy to camp in and get right into the natural environment. I found the people I met in Washington very helpful. I had no trouble getting to places and I've told many people in Canada about how rewarding this state is for nature and how charming the old forts, parks and small towns are Now I get to tell you tweets in Washington. (P.S. and it did cost a few thousand dollars for about a month.)



Claire E. Radke

(chatonbirds at yahoo.ca)
Edmonton, Alberta.



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