This report is regrettably quite late, but is merely a confirmation of the continued presence of black-backed woodpeckers in the Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge, not a sighting in a new place. On June 17, we were quite thrilled to see 2 black-backed woodpeckers in the Slide Creek burn area off Moran Creek road in the LPO where they have been reported by several Tweeters. They were much blacker than I expected, really blending into the burnt trees they were pecking at. Always cool when a bird is unique and easily recognizable.

Our stop at LPO was part of our first trip to NE Washington. What a lovely area, especially LPO. We plan to go back again. One other stop which had looked promising was Big Meadow Lake. In a short time there we saw lots of birds including 2 snipe, a bald eagle, a warbling vireo, a pair of ring-necked ducks with a chick, a spotted sandpiper and a Wilson's warbler. Then the helicopter flew in to help with a logging operation which is going on across the road. According to the campground host, the helicopter was there from 6:30 am - 4:00 pm. The logging operation was scheduled to last another week. The noise was very loud and disconcerting. We headed elsewhere.

Many thanks for all those Tweeters who provided information about where to find the black-backed woodpeckers and reported on those at LPO. It was an exciting experience to see them and then to find all the other birds in the area as well. We have learned so much about birds and where to find them from Tweeters. It's great.

Judy Clinesmith
Anacortes WA
jaclinesmith at fidalgo.net