Day 4:  Tonight we are in Creston.  My home town and where I first met Dana.  It was an uneventful day on the road.  We stopped a few times to make coffee and tea and while we were at it, look for birds.  Unfortunately either our bird finding and identification skills need sharpening or we were looking in the wrong places as we saw only one new species for our world list.  This new bird to us is the Calliope Hummingbird.  Photo in a future post.

We arrived in the Creston Valley around 4:30.  Our first stop was at the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area.  You owe it to yourself to google this Area and learn about the size and scope of the operation.  Better yet, travel to Creston and visit the Area.  There are many trails that wind through the wetlands.  Entry to the area is by donation.  Factoid:  Barry worked for the CVWMA in 1972 and 1973 as a chainsaw contractor and later as a campground attendant.  Okay, how do those jobs fit into the Wildlife Management box?  Let me tell, I lived a wildlife back then and managed very well - thank you very much....

Today we spent about 1 1/2 hours walking trail in the Area in search of birds.  We heard and saw many, including the Calliope, Black-chinned and Rufous Hummingbirds, Gray Catbird, Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, Cedar Waxwing, Warbling Vireo and 4 species of Swallow.  Also about a billion mosquitoes although I don't know what species.  Maybe Draculomus-Bloodthirsty??  Not sure about that......  I do know they loved the "ON" we applied in copious quantities.

At the end of the day we found a great campground across from the Columbia Brewing Company.  We pitched our tent and went in search of food.  There is a new place in town called Casey's Community House.  Very upscale.  Beautiful architecture and mission style wood furnishings.  The food was delicious.  The ingredients were local.  Same for the wine.  Dana enjoyed a glass of Wynnwood Viognier/Chard from Wynndel, BC.  No local beer.  I had a drinkable ale from Mill Street Brewing in Vancouver.

We likely will not spend a lot of time here in Creston Valley.  If I started poking around we would end  up spending the day and we have things to do and places to see.  Tomorrow we continue east, destination unknown.  Can't wait!!

Here are a couple of photos from today.  2 from the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area and one from dinner at Casey's.  Enjoy!