Subject: elma birding
Date: Jun 17 13:21:19 2003
From: Tim O'Brien - kertim7179 at centurytel.net


Hi Tweets, I took a small walk down the grassy road that heads due south from the end of Schouweiler Rd. this morning. This area is part of the small Chehalis Valley wildlife area just west of Elma. The weather was sunny with a light wind. Bird activity was good with a couple notable highlights. I spotted the aberrant American Robin that I reported on May 22 again today. Its body is about 65% white. A very interesting looking bird to say the least. It was located at the extreme southern end of the grassy road just before it splits into the two large fields beyond the pond. I also had nice views of two Virginia Rail. The second being the best because it happened when I was walking back to my car. I heard something rustling in the grass just off the road and then it splashed into the water. I thought it might stop because it was coming right for me and at the time I had no idea what was coming out of the swamp. I have to admit my heart was pounding at this moment because by the splashing sounds and the rustling of the grass it sounded quite large. And then suddenly it came out on the road and it was just one Virginia Rail who decided it needed to cross the road when I happened to be right there. I didn't think such a little bird could make such big noise. Also, I spotted two Osprey flying over the wetland and two more on nests on the west and east ends of the southern pond. The western nest has at least one hatchling in it now. I thought there might be two but after scoping it for a short time I'm leaning towards just one for now. This is the same nest that you can see from different points along the western portion of Wenzel Slough Rd. Here's the list:

Pied-billed Grebe (heard only)
Wood Duck ( 5 including one female with two young)
Mallard (1 hen and 3 young)
Osprey
Virginia Rail
Killdeer (heard only)
Willow Flycatcher (heard only)
Tree Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Bewick's Wren
Marsh Wren (not a place where you can't hear them)
Swainson's Thrush (several singing)
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
American Goldfinch

Good birding,

Tim O'Brien
Elma, WA
mailto: kertim7179 at centurytel.net