Journal R.E. Johnson 1968 March 20 So. Lassen Co., Calif. to Bodie, Mono Co., Calif. (cont.) Blackbilled Magpies were seen near Topaz Lake & more commonly in Bridgeport where Starlings were also common. I drove to Bodie via the road leaving US 395 a few miles south of Bridgeport. It is 13 miles in to Bodie on this dirt road. A few muddy spots were encountered and a little snow hung on north slopes but none was on the road. I arrived in Bodie at dusk & was met by Bill (E.W.) Stelzreide who is one of several (?) Calif. State Park people living there. He invited me in to talk & indicated the road was open much earlier than usual, opening Feb. 25 (even though a sign on the way still says closed) when it normally is closed until the end of April. The State Park people stay in Bodie yeararound & snowshoe or use snow cat to get in & out. Birds he has noticed include Starling, Robin (one in Jan.), Dickissel & Swifts. However in discussions about the Swifts I found that they are probably Ray Finches. He had never been able to get close to them to tell what they were but had presumed their identity by their manner of flight. They occur in many mine shafts in large numbers and fly in large flocks and feed together at snow edges on the ground. He feels many stay in the shafts all day long.