Hi Tweeters -
Today while out birding in Skamania County, I came across a Swamp Sparrow - an apparent county first for Skamania.

Location: Red Bluff Marsh, north of Stevenson -- to get there, take Ryan-Allen Rd out of Stevenson to Red Bluff Rd - the marsh is visible from the intersection -- normally best viewed from along Red Bluff Marsh -- today, I chased the Swampie along the opposite side of the marsh, accessed by a two-track under the power lines. It was very responsive early in the morning to my i-pod -- repeatedly calling though never coming out for a view. I came back late in the afternoon hoping for a view -- again it was responsive for a bit but would not come out for views.

In other minor frustrations for the county lister -- I was up at 'the' Skamania spot for Short-eared Owl [Fitzgerald Rd off Marble Rd] - both at dawn and at dusk. I only had a distant view of one probable Short-eared Owl, well off on the Clark side of the county line.

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA