..........Just came back from 2-week trip[ down the south Otegon coast to
the cnetral valley of California( with its blistering 90+ heat!!!!!).
...........Just north of Cape Arago (south of Cood Bay, Oreg.) were
zillions of seals and sea lions basking on a beach under a rock
several hundred feet offshore.. At an inlet at Cape Arago contained
hundteds and hundreds (.....yes, you heard right!!!) of bvobbing black
heads in the water (likily harbor seals)----someone told me the biggest
rookery on thre west coast.. 4 different species of sea lions and seals
use or visit this area.
...........Just of Port Orford: rocks harbor thousands of sea
birds---TUFTED PUFFINS; COMMON MURRES, several species of CORMORANTS;
and PIGEON GUILLEMOTS.. Unfortunately, the wind was so stong that I
couldn't keep the tripod and scope steady enough to see the Puffins, but
did see all else.
...........A beach just south of Gold Beach----offshore rocj was
literally covered with what seemed like thousands of COMMON MURRES. The
beach I was standing on had 4 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS; 4 WHIIMBRELS; and 1
LONG-BILLED CURLEW.' strutting around.. Nearby beaches had more late
migrants----more BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS; LEAST SANDPIPERS, SEMI-PALMATED
PLOVERS, and.....1 WESTERN SANDPIPER in full breeding plumage.
..........Around my daughter's place SE of Sacraimento,Calif.: .MOUNTAIN
BLUEBIRDS, WESTERN TANAGERS; YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIES NO. MOCKINGBIRDS;
ACORN WOODPECKERS; scads of TURKEY VULTU7RES.and other birds we also see
uo here on our country .
..........A very hot visit to Sacramento NWR near Williams, Ca. produced
lots of WHITE-FACED IBIS; CALIF. QUAIL; COMMON GALLINULE (COMMON
MOORHEN); GREAT EGRETS with many SNOWY EGRETS; several BLACK-CROWNED
NIGHT HERONS, 1 AVOCET; COMMON YELLOWTHROAT; WESTERN WOOD-PEEWEE;; OAK
TITMOUSE , AND lots of REDWINGED BLACKBIRDS (all red--no yellow on
wings--along with lots of RING-NECKED PHEASANTS and..........plenty of
long-eared Jackrabbits!!!!!!!!! A small YELLOWLEGS was seen--had the
smaller size and bill of LESSER YELLOWLEGS--though kind of rare in this
area.this late in season.

..........Here' a toast s to all the birds I didn't see that blistering
hot day---too uncomfortable to foot walk on the paths..

...........Cheers......Gerald Hamilton
\ Brush Prairy, Wash.
gerald at e-z.net