Today while scouting for my area for the WOS convention from Castle Rock to Mt. St. Helens (Johnston Ridge) birds were very tough to find, even the common ones. However on the hill east of the visitor center was 1 lone Lapland Longspur. First heard the dry rattle then saw it fly away over the parking lot. This is in Skamania County.



I have encountered Lapland Longspurs this time of year in the Olympics above tree line, Calispell Peak (Pend Oreille Co. part of the peak) with Dave Beaudette and Patrick Sullivan, and north of there with Mark Houston and Marv Breece also in Pend Oreille Co.



I noticed lots of grasshoppers all over around the visitor center. Let me know if anyone else sees anything up there. It's $8 for adults, $55 for failing to buy your $8 pass.


Ken Knittle
Vancouver WA 98665
mailto:washingtonbirder at hotmail.com
Washington Birder online
http://www.wabirder.com/