Anybody who wants to see a Ducky Grouse (among
other birds and beautiful scenery), just head over
to Sun Mountain Lodge 9 miles out of Winthrop.
Right now they are EVERYWHERE - males booming
softly and females with chicks walking around the
buildings, parking areas, trails and roads. I do
not know how many I have seen for sure because I
do not know which may have been the same bird seen
again but for sure there have been at least 12 and
possibly as many as 20 readily seen morning though
night. Only two distinct males for sure (possibly
a third) and at least 7 chicks and 3 females but I
believe there were at least another 2 or 3
females, because I saw some without chicks and do
not believe they would have abandoned them if they
were the ones seen earlier which stayed close to
their offspring. Among other nice birds, Lazuli
Bunting, Mountain Chickadee and Mountain Blue
Bird, Red and White Breasted Nuthatches, Vesper,
Chipping and Brewer's Sparrows, Western Tanagers,
Common Nighthawks, Poorwill, Cooper's Hawk and
lots of Pine Siskins. Also many deer (and fawns)
feeding nearby.


--
Blair Bernson
Seattle