Hi Tweeters,

Eight of us went on a Black Hills Audubon field trip to the Black Hills of Capital Forest in Thurston County. Although we probably saw almost as many hunters as birds, the weather was glorious and we probably heard less than half a dozen shots the whole time we were there. The best bird of the day was a PYGMY OWL that Dave Hayden somehow spotted on a tree just off the road as we were driving past. It was extremely accommodating, fluttering from branch to branch or just standing still for long periods of time, giving us great views. In total, we saw or heard just over 30 species for the day, including: Gray Jay, Common Raven, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, both species of kinglets, Evening Grosbeak, Hutton's Vireo, Townsend's Warbler, Hermit Thrush, Varied Thrush, Spotted Towhee, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin, and Red-tailed Hawk.

Good birding,

Lonnie Somer
Olympia, WA
wheelermombi at comcast.net