Tweeters,

I had a couple of ideas for improved Baikal Teal viewing to check out and
got to the 277th spot about 1 PM. There were two other nameless birders
working on it at that time. The woman had a nice Leica scope. My first
idea was that with the long grass and the road being about the same
elevation as the field, your view would continue to improve with
increasing elevation. I plopped my modified 1 inch plywood scrap up on
the SUV roof rack rails, then made a 5.1 bouldering move over the spare
time and onto the roof. It helps quite a bit, but in this case not
enough to bag the bird. I doubt that there are many of you who wish to
try this, but perhaps a multi articulated ladder in the back of a pickup
is worth a try.

Idea two was that perhaps the trail that begins on the north end of Lake
Fenwick would work it's way to a viewing spot. It didn't.

Good luck with this duck. His bright mustard colored cheek patch will
give him away if he doesn't have it under his wing.

Larry Schwitters
Issaquah