Jim Pruske, Brenda Johnson, and I birded a few locations, starting with
the Hoquiam STP. The waterfowl has mostly left, but there are still a
good number of scaups and buffleheads around. The Tufted Duck has most
likely left as well.
Next, we went to Preachers Slough. A 3-1/2 mile, one way nature trail,
offering a mixture of habitats. Mixed forest, tidal action slough,
thickets, small open fields, and swampy marsh areas. As an added bonus,
we watched a pair of Red Tailed Hawks in courtship display overhead in
the open field. We tallied 25 species after only walking roughly 2 miles
of the 3-1/2 mile trail.
On a side note, we saw a Osprey nest on a power pole, on the south side
of the Chehalis River, after crossing the bridge on Hwy. 101 heading
south from Montesano.
Our final stop was at Brady Loop Road. Waterfowl and raptor numbers were
down, and many of the ponds are drying up.

Hoquiam STP:
Ruddy Duck - 1 female
Common Goldeneye - 1 male
Virginia Rail - 2
Rough Legged Hawk - 1
Peregrine Falcon - 1
Fox Sparrow - 1

Preachers Slough:
Downy Woodpecker - 3
Red Breasted Sapsucker - 2
Varied Thrush - 9
Fox Sparrow - 5
Red Tailed Hawk - 2
Bushtit - flock
Brown Creeper - 3
Chestnut Backed Chickadee - 8
Greater Scaup - 2 flocks (1 flock of 23 and 1 flock of 52)

Brady Loop:
Virginia Rail - 1
Red Tailed Hawk - 2
Tundra and Trumpeter Swans - mixed flock of 78 total

Dave Hayden
Lakewood, WA
dtvhm at nwrain.com