Hi Tweeters;
This morning taking the same trail as I did on June 6th, when I
encountered the Black bear, I heard some scratching in the same area.
Thinking it might be the bear again and maybe this time I could get
some good photos I used the same pishing sound as before. What popped
out wasn't a bear or a Ruffed grouse but it was about the size of a
domestic cat, black and had two wide stripes down its back! It was
right by my feet so I didn't dare move. Luckily it didn't see me as a
threat and so it scampered up the trail. Wheew! That was really a
close call! The birds along the trail were just the usual ones but
beautiful just the same. For the first time I saw a Hammond's
flycatcher up close.
Joy Stickney-Markgraf
near White Salmon WA
email: joymarkgraf at gorge.net