On Monday 16th April I went to see the Greater Sage Grouse above Leahy
Junction. I found six males in the sagebrush ridges north of the fence - the
usual place - but also five in a strip of wheat stubble on the other side of
the road. There is no fence or warning notice here and you can walk out
through the sagebrush toward the wheat field and get excellent views of the
grouse. They were still active when I left around 7.15 am

Other good birds in the general area were two Rough Legged Hawks on the
plateau west of Grand Coulee, a Redhead in one of the ponds there, Golden
Eagle, Says Phoebe and several Canyon Wrens calling in the Northrup Canyon,
a Long Eared Owl in the Russian Olives near the entrance to Steamboat Rock
SP, and a Eurasian Wigeon on Banks Lake. We failed to find the Sharp Tailed
Grouse above Bridgeport but did have a House Wren in a grove of cottonwoods
there.

Richard Isherwood
Port Townsend WA
Rjisherwood at gmail.com