Dear Tweeters,

A SAGE THRASHER surprised me on 4-06-11. It was in the yard of the house at the base of Kamiak Butte (Whitman County) park. The bird foraged on earthworms with American Robins in the grassy driveway leading to a mini-barn. No, it wasn't a Hermit Thrush. To view the bird, I just pulled over, just as I was about to leave the park-entry road. There isn't a bit of sage for miles, as far as I can tell.

Shortly after nightfall on 4-06-2011, there were three species of owls calling simultaneously at Fields Spring State Park campground (Asotin County). First, a FLAMMULATED OWL started calling. Yes, I know it's early for this species, but it called for about an hour, incessantly. Next, a Great Horned Owl joined in, followed by a Northern Saw-whet. Also present in the area near the campground, the following morning (today) were a Red-naped Sapsucker, a Ruffed Grouse, and a flock of American Goldfinches. It was still quite snowy and chilly there, perfect for a quiet night's owling and quiet morning's birding.

Today (4-07-2011), three LESSER GOLDFINCHES popped up at a ranch near the bottom of the Couse Creek Road (AKA Sherry Grade, Shelly Grade, Shelly Gulch Road, etc) in Asotin County. These birds were in a small tree at road's edge, at a ranch featuring fenceposts made of pyramidal wooden frames with rocks piled on top of them. This is just below an area where the fenceposts consist partially of boulders with bolts drilled into them...admirable fencing work! These folks must have GREAT neighbors, if true proveth the adage.

Yours truly,


Gary Bletsch

?Near Lyman, Washington (Skagit County), USA?garybletsch at yahoo.com?Mentre che li occhi per la fronda verde
ficcava ?o s? come far suole
chi dietro a li uccellin sua vita perde, lo pi? che padre mi dicea: ?Figliuole,
vienne oramai, ch? ?l tempo che n?? imposto
pi? utilmente compartir si vuole?.??