Hi all,

After Working the last three weekends, I decided to go camping and driving
around the state to pick up on some of the great birds reported recently.
Missed the Red-shouldered Hawk at Ridgefield on Thursday, but did get
great looks at SORA and VIRGINIA RAILS with chicks from the photo blind on
the auto tour route. I also tried in vain for the Indigo Bunting in
Vancouver. Heading east I picked up a single ACORN WOODPECKER on Grayback
road. Continuing east I was able to easily find the NORTHERN PARULA in the
early evening at Kennewick.

Friday morning I went up to Bisquit Ridge to try for Green-tailed Towhee
and thought I had one, but reviewing my pictures it turned out to be a
juvenile Spotted Towhee much to my dissapointment. DUSKY GROUSE and deer
were everywhere on the ridge. Working my way north towards Potholes, a
soaring FERRUGINOUS HAWK made an appearance near the town of Starbuck.

After camping in Potholes I couldn't resist acting on the reported PAINTED
BUNTING at Siwash Creek Road. The bird was easily viewed singing from tree
to tree. This stunning bird made up for the missed Indigo earler in the
trip and being a sun lover the recent heat wave was just what I was
needing.

Made for a great trip. A couple of below average photos can be viewed here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikecharest/7528646118/in/photostream

Enjoy the sunshine,

Michael Charest
Tacoma, Washington
mcharest at wamail.net