Well, well, well. I'll let you all guess if you think my tongue should be in my cheek or not when I say: I'm an idiot.

Sheesh...I don't know how I missed that for all these years. I'm kind of quiet, but you'd think I'd have figured this one out by talking sometime. I've even visited the Audubon store many times online.

In my (slight) defense, this is the kind of website I had been using...its the Bookfinder.com. Go check it out...Just did a search there for the book -- got 7 hits. The cheapest copy was listed at Amazon for $80. The higest priced was an Alibris copy at -- wait for it...$421.57!!!!

So, let me change this thread to a "how to get rich quick" program. All you Opperman owners, get online right now and sell your copies. Pricing them at $200 bucks will put you right in the sweet spot for fast sale.

Seriously, again, thanks for the prompt help to all who responded! Sorry to clutter the board with a silly issue...I'm done; back in lurking mode. (Okay, not quite...anyone know WHY those prices are like that...I mean, I can sort of see the Alibris upper-crusty place price, but why Amazon??)

Michael Merrill
Spring Lake/Maple Valley


-------------- Original message --------------
From: "Penny Koyama" <plkoyama at verizon.net>

You're kidding. Just call the Seattle Audubon Nature Shop and order one. We sell lots of them (I volunteer there one shift/wk.) Phone is 206-523-4483. Address is 8050-35th NE in the Wedgewood area of Seattle if you want to look at many great birding books, feeders, gifts, optics and more. Or I think you can order the book on-line at www.seattleaudubon.org The book is $29.95, 10% off if you are a member of SAS. Plus shipping if you are going to send for it. It's a great book!!
Penny Koyama, Bothell
----- Original Message -----
From: mgmerrill at comcast.net
To: Lily Hudson ; tweeters at u.washington.edu ; pbhudson at gmail.com
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 10:19 AM
Subject: RE: [Tweeters] Opperman and Help for east coast birder


Hello,

Hey, I don't have any help to offer on the targeted Grouse, so sorry if it seems like I am hijacking this thread...not the intent; instead just consider this a way to "bump" it back through the list if you will.

Meanwhile, the point of this post is to ask how you got your copy of the Opperman book! My tongue is only slightly in cheek when I complain about a non-resident having it when a full-timer like me can't so much as lay eyes on one.

Okay, it was fully in cheeck, but seriously Tweets, is there something I am missing here? I've seen the book referenced repeatedly for the the few years I've been lurking on this site, but all efforts to obtain it have failed. I even put myself on the Powell's call-when-it's-in list...finally, after 14 months got an email notice, but it was gone by the time I ordered (only an hour after the email). On the bookseller sites, the cheapest I see it going for is about $175 bucks, and sorry, but even though I collect history books, I collect CHEAP ones, and that is about 15 books at my usual used-book buying price.

Anyone got any hints for me as to where I should be looking...I must be doing this wrong!

Thanks for the help, and sorry if I offended by using this post as a jumping off point.

Michael Merrill
Spring Lake/Maple Valley
MGMerrillATcomcast.net

-------------- Original message --------------
From: Lily Hudson <lilyhudson at hotmail.com>

I didn't get any responses to my message below so I guess, as I suspected, the target shorebirds aren't known to be around. In that case, I had three quick follow-up questions: (1) is there any particular advice as to exact places in the Hurricane Ridge to look for sooty grouse? I gather I look for clumps of vegetation in meadows, but if there are particular meadows I should try, or something else, that would be great to know; (2) to maximize grouse chances on a weekend day, do I need to aim to get there very early in the morning? Or if I get away from crowds are my odds as good any time of day? (My lifer Blue (now Dusky) was in the middle of the day right off a crowded trail). (3) Are there any coastal areas with roughly comparable beauty to Ruby Beach closer to Westport? I'm trying to decide what to do with my day where I wake up in Seattle and end in Westport.

Thanks,

Paul
Arlington, VA



From: lilyhudson at hotmail.com
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu; pbhudson at gmail.com
Subject: RE: [Tweeters] Help for east coast birder
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:52:01 -0400
CC:

Hi,

Sorry to be yet a third eastern birder this week seeking info. My target bird list is fairly different from Tom's so I wanted to post separately. I have the Opperman book and know I won't find many if any of these birds, but if anyone has any leads on them I would be much appreciative. I have a couple days after a work trip in Seattle Aug 1-3. I'm signed up for the Westport pelagic Aug 2 and am trying to figure out best use of my time for the day before, which can start predawn out of Seattle, and the day after (which ends with me needing to be at the Seattle airport by around 930pm). Potential lifers are listed below.

Given my slim chances of land-based lifers, I may well prioritize top recommended day-hiking areas or other scenic spots over birding, so any recommendations in that department are also much appreciated, or even better yet spots that are great on both counts. I have only been to Olympic Park and the western! side o f Olympic Pen. one time, and that was for not much more than a day 15 years ago (Ruby Beach, Hoh Rain Forest and a too-quick visit to Hurricane Ridge).

First, here are the shorebirds. I'm too early in the season, have too little time, and worse, probably won't be able to pack a scope because I am not checking luggage (unless I hear that several of these birds are around, in which case I'll find a way to bring one). If there are good leads in the Westport-Ocean Shores area for which scopes are needed perhaps I'll find someone going on the pelagic who will want to go look with me.

Pacific Golden Plover
Hudsonian Godwit
Bar-tailed Godwit
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Ruff
Black-headed Gull

On land, my only possible lifers are Sooty Grouse (I have seen Blue before the split), Spotted Owl and Northern Goshawk. I may try Hurricane Ridge for the grouse and stay for the hiking.&! nbsp; I 'd also be happy to pick up Hermit Warbler, Vaux's Swift, Varied Thrush, Pygmy Owl, and White-fronted Goose, which I have seen but only once.

Thanks for any advice! Please reply off-list to pbhudson at gmail.com. I will see email at that address (not this one) on my cell phone even once I am in Washington.

Paul Hudson
Arlington, VA