Hello Tweets,

Today my mother and I birded in the Woodland area of Cowlitz Co., mainly
along Dike Access Rd.(west of Woodland) from 8:20am-1:25pm, where the
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was still present along the west portion of Caples Rd.,
amongst a small sparrow flock at the same location where it was previously
observed by Steve Mlodinow, and most recently by Ryan Shaw and Michael
Donahue. An adult winter plumaged FRANKLIN'S GULL was observed several times
during our visit along Dike Access Rd. in partially flooded plowed corn
fields amongst a variable sized flock of Ring-billed Gulls and Mew Gulls,
where it was photographed from a few vantage points off of Dike Access Rd.,
and behind a residence with prior permission. This could possibly be the
same individual that was found by Marv Breece near Auburn on the 3rd of
December, where it continued south following I-5 to Woodland. It seems this
bird may linger with associating gulls at this location, as it seemed
comfortable foraging in the corn stubble fields, and occasionally resting
motionless by itself.

The weather throughout the day was favorable, with mostly cloudy skies with
increasing rain after 1pm, then continuous rain showers heading north to
Tacoma. Upon our visit to Dike Access Rd. and associating side roads, and
Horsehoe Lake area in both Clark and Cowlitz Cos.(south of Woodland)we
encountered several additional highlights before heading north. A list of
our highlights follows for the listed locations mentioned above:

2 RED-THROATED LOONS
1 PACIFIC LOON
13 Horned Grebes
2 Red-necked Grebes
1 EARED GREBE
27 Western Grebes
1 Am.Bittern
37 Great Egrets(high count for location)
34 Tundra Swans
3 Greater Scaup
6 Am.Kestrels
1 Merlin
285+ Sandhill Cranes(foraging in fields, in addition to good numbers flying
overhead)
270+ Mew Gulls
220+ Ring-billed Gulls
3 Herring Gulls
64 Mourning Doves
1 HORNED LARK
1 Hermit Thrush
1 male Varied Thrush
82 Am.Pipits
1 Cedar Waxwing(with Am.Robins)
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
3 Savannah Sparrows
7 Lincoln's Sparrows
1 immature tan-stiped WHITE-THROATED SPARROW
1 "Slate-colored"Junco
14 Western Meadowlarks
18 Brown-headed Cowbirds(with Brewer's Blackbirds)


Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net