Subject: weekend birding
Date: Feb 2 18:03:17 2003
From: Ruth Sullivan - GODWIT at worldnet.att.net


Hello Tweets,

My mother and I birded at several areas this weekend from portions of Grays Harbor Co. on the 1st of February,then areas of Lewis,Thurston and eastern Grays Harbor Cos. on the 2nd. The weather was fairly spotty both days with occasional showers with mostly cloudy skies with improving conditions on the 2nd. Many areas both days as expected were quite flooded due to recent rains,including a few areas that had partially flooded roads that were impassible such as along Wenzel Slough and Dunlap Rds. as noted today. The areas that we have been observing multiple numbers of Swamp Sparrows along Wenzel Slough Rd. is completely under water,but we manged to locate 2 individual birds just east of the original location that was less flooded on the 1st. On the 1st of February we birded a ta few locations from Elma to the Hoquim STP with a few highlights of note to mention including the following:

1 Greater White-fronted Goose in the large open fields amongst good numbers of Canada Geese at the south end of K St. at Hoquiam

1 light-morph Rough-legged Hawk along Paulson Rd. immediately off of S.R.109 near the Hoquiam STP

1 Am.Kestrel along Foster Rd. nrear Brady Loop Rd.

1 adult Peregrine Falcon at Bowerman Basin

1 Spotted Sandpiper along the Hoquiam River at Hoquiam

2 Swamp Sparrows along Wenzel Slough Rd.


Today we enjoyed birding at several areas beginning at the Centralia Steam Plant east of Centralia in Lewis Co. from 10am-12pm,as we spent considerable time scanning through the good numbers of lingering waterfowl in the large flooded areas in the general vicinity of the steam plant along Big Hanaford Rd. These ares often get flooded during the winter,but the areas seems especially flooded this winter. Waterfowl numbers were quite good which included good numbers of Am.Wigeon,Green-winged Teal and Northern Pintail among other species of waterfowl noted during our visit. Our main highlight during our 2 hour visit were 2 Swamp Sparrows(heard and seen)and 1 adult White-throated Sparrow(white-striped form)among several other notable species. The Swamp Sparrows were observed and briefly heard calling together in a partially flooded,weedy area immediately east of the two settling ponds east of the steam plant and the White-throated Sparrow was observed amongst 2 Golden-crowned Sparrows in a large bramble patch across the road from the large gray metal barn east of the steam plant along Big Hanaford Rd. Other highlights noted in the general vicinity included:

4 male Eurasian Wigeon
50+ Ring-necked Ducks
7 Lesser Scaups
3 Bald Eagles
7 Wild Turkeys
2 Least Sandpipers
205+ Dunlin
1 Red-breasted Sapsucker
1 immature Northern Shrike
1 Lincoln's Sparrow
6 Western Meadowlarks

After 12pm we checked a few locations as we headed towards Grays Harbor Co. including a brief check in the Meadows-Galvin area of southwestern Thurston Co./northwestern Lewis Co.,but areas that hosted good species in past years was subject to recent building and loss of habitat. We were able to locate 20+ Brown-headed Cowbirds in a mixed blackbird and starling flock. Continuing west and north along Hwy.12 we stopped along Dunlap Rd. in eastern Grays Harbor Co. and encountered a large flock of waterfowl in large flooded areas that contained 75 Tundra Swans and 32 Trumpeter Swans amongst other waterfowl species present(including large numbers of "Cackling"Canada Geese with several "Dusky"Canada Geese noted). In a large flooded field east of Vance Creek Park near Elma we located a large gull flock that contained up tp 3 Western Gulls(2 adults,1 first-year bird),1 first-year Thayer's Gull,and 1 California Gull among more common regular gull species. We checked both day for the adult White-tailed Kite(s)that have been lingering along Wenzel Slough Rd.,but it appears the bird(s)have moved to a more dryer area in search of food,but may not be too far away.

Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
godwit at worldnet.att.net