Tweeters,

Today, Jason Paulios and I explored the Rochester-Grand Mound area of
southwestern Thurston County with White-tailed Kites being our target
bird. Despite having rain showers during much of the morning, we had a
number of highlights including a Gyrfalcon, Turkey Vultures, and a Rufous
Hummingbird, as listed below for various locations.

Moon Rd. SW, northwest of Rochester and about 3/4 mile north of U.S. 12

American Kestrel - 1
Mourning Dove - 7
Western Scrub-Jay - 2


Prather Rd SW, south of Grand Mound and 1.5 miles west of I-5

Turkey Vulture - 5
American Kestrel - 1
Violet-green Swallow - 1 or 2 in a flock of 20 Tree Swallows over a farm
pond
Western Meadowlarks - about 25 in one flock in a stubble-filled crop field


Meadows Rd., 1/4 mile south of Prather Rd SW and about 1/2 mile west of
Old Highway 99, can be reached via 219th Ave

Gyrfalcon - 1, the bird appeared to be transitioning from a pale gray
immature to an adult. We watched it for about 30 minutes in the middle of
a large open field, sitting first on a fence post, then on a powerpole.
Both perches were about 200 yards south of Meadows Rd., which placed the
bird just inside the Thurston County line.


Goodrich and Wagner Rds, just south of the Thurston-Lewis County boundary
and west of Old Highway 99. We drove here hoping to get better looks of
the Gyrfalcon from the Lewis County side of the field, which did not
happen, however we did find:

White-tailed Kite -1
Rufous Hummingbird - 1 male at the intersection of Goodrich and Wagner
Western Scrub-Jay - 1

Gary Wiles
Tumwater, WA
wilesharkey at yahoo.com




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