Left at 0-dark-thirty today in hopes of finally adding a Black Phoebe to the
state list.? First stop was Woodland, near the intersection of Dike Access Rd
and Dike Rd.? After over an hour of pacing the area, I finally heard the Black
Phoebe's distant calls.? Those who search for it should beware that at least one
of the local starlings does a fairly good rendition of the flycatcher's
single-note calls.? After some squinting, I located the bird far from the road,
in a cottonwood tree.??It was?one of the trees in the row behind a little pond
located just south of the nursery buildings at 1321 Dike Rd, and just north of
the big red barn.?

A few other surprises (to me, at least) were in the area, including scads of
Eurasian Collared-doves right at the T, and dozens of American Pipits in the
stubble fields along Dike Access Rd.? A very good day for the anemic Cowlitz
County list!
Thought I'd get greedy and try for two phoebes in one day, but the Ridgefield
bird wouldn't show for me, despite two trips 'round the loop, with long stops at
its recent hangouts.? I think Tom, who saw it near the #6 marker early this
morning?was the ONLY person who had the bird today!

Jeff Bryant
Seattle