Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge
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June 19th, 2008. Continuing my sightings at the Refuge......
We started this day with a walk up a place in the Refuge called Robinson's Draw. This did not have a trail, and once again the Mosquitoes were terrible. The birds were great. In the Aspen forests were many kinds of Warblers and Flycatchers. I had trouble sorting out the Flycatchers here. I believe I was seeing and hearing Dusky and Cordilleran Flycatchers. There was a very diminutive and pale Flycatcher. I was thinking Hammond's or as a long shot, Least Flycatcher. But I am not familiar enough with the latter. There were Western Wood-pewees, which I know well.
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Most exciting for me was my first sighting of a Green-tailed Towhee. I found it singing at the top of the Draw, perched on top of a granite outcrop. It's crest of red threw me off at first. I had gorgeous views. Later that evening I located more Green-tailed Towhees near our camp. If it was possible the mosquitoes were at their worst around this granite outcrop. There must have been some hidden pools.
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After this we returned to camp and soaked in the hot springs. The shallower pool was hotter than the deep pool. Later that evening I went Snipe hunting with a big gunnysack....
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Mark Vernon
Renton, WA
mailto ma_vern at yahoo.com