Hello Tweeters, Wednesday morning I birded the Brady Loop area (Grays Harbor
county) once again. I enjoyed mostly dry weather conditions, but it was
chilly with the winds. The heavy rains from the past two days have
recharged a lot of the low-lying areas with water. There are now several
large ponds in the areas that they usually form in. With that in mind, I
was hoping to see large numbers of waterfowl out today. Bufflehead numbers
seem to be increasing in the area, I counted close to 20 today. Also, I had
my first good sized group of Northern Pintail which numbered 25. They were
located on the western portion of the Brady Loop Rd. There were also 2
American Wigeon mixed in with the Pintail. Other species of waterfowl seen
in the area include Mallard, Scaup, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal,
Ring-necked Duck, and American Coot. There were several groups of Canada
Geese on the move too today through the area. I even got a little confused
by some Canada Geese decoys until I saw the hunter placing them in the field
I was glassing with my binoculars. I felt pretty foolish after seeing the
hunter, but I compliment him on the quality of the decoys!

Near the intersection of Foster Rd. and Brady Loop Rd., there was one large
flock of Dunlin feeding on the edge of the ponds there. I did spot at least
3 Black-bellied Plovers mixed in that flock too. Raptors seen include one
Peregrine Falcon, several Northern Harriers including 2 males, and two
Red-tailed Hawks.

Good birding,

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