Today, Ruth Sullivan, Patrick Sullivan, Ken Knittle, and I birded Lewis
and Clark Counties.
Starting at the Chehalis Steam Plant (Lewis Co.).
Shore bird numbers were down. 3 LONG BILLED DOWITCHERS, 2 GREATER
YELLOWLEGS, 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER, and a few LEAST SANDPIPERS.
We had 1 very curious VIRGINIA RAIL come out of the marsh into the open
for several minutes. The bird came within 10ft from all us standing
there. The behavior of the bird was quickly explained. We left our
cameras in the car and the bird knew it. Another Kodak moment lost. Also
3 cow elk were seen in the adjacent field.
Next, we birded the drive through at Ridgefield (Clark Co.).
Hi-lites included, a few GREATER YELLOWLEGS, several LONG + SHORT BILLED
DOWITCHERS, 13 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 5 DUNLIN, 1 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, 3
GREATER WHITE FRONTED GEESE, 1 AMERICAN BITTERN calling, 2 pairs of
YELLOW HEADED BLACKBIRDS, 1 BULLOCKS ORIOLE, lots of CINNAMON TEAL, and
alot of VIRGINIA + SORA RAILS calling all over the refuge. The Red
Shouldered Hawk WAS NOT seen.
Finally, we birded Steigerwald (Clark Co.).
Hi-lites included 1 WESTERN KINGBIRD, 2 MOURNING DOVES, and 1 pair of
GREATER SCAUP.
I had a total of 88 species for the day.

Dave Hayden
Lakewood WA