Subject: Douglas County Clay-colored sparrow and more
Date: May 22 20:29:42 2004
From: Scott Downes - downess at charter.net


On tuesday of this week (5/18) I had a singing Clay-colored Sparrow NE of
jameson lake, Douglas county, WA. I have not had the chance to visit the
spot again, but the male seemed territorial. To access the site, take L or
Heritage road north of Hwy. 2, this is a couple of miles west of what used
to be Atkins Lake (now dried up). Take L or heritage (called both), north
until you interesect with road 6. Nw of this intersection is a shrub-steppe
patch surrounded by a plowed field. Take heritage about a half mile up past
road 6 and you will see a patch of basin wild rye in the shrub-steppe about
a 100 yards off the road on the left. The bird was in the sage on the
northern edge of this patch. You'll need to try from the road and not go
into the patch, but it may still be possible to get the bird. If I get a
chance next week I'll try to get GPS coordinates to make directions more
clear.
Also of note on tuesday eve there was a Peregrine sitting on the grain
elevators in coulee city and late evening I had my first Nighthawk of the
year flying around Dry Falls Dam.

Good birding all.

Scott Downes
downess at charter.net
Coulee city/Yakima WA