Hi Tweeters,

I went out this morning and again this evening for a couple short birding
trips around Elma. The valley was fogged in this morning so that hampered
my efforts. Along Foster Rd., I had some very close views of several
Wilson's Snipe right along the edge of the roadway. There were at least 10
that I could pick out in the field. I did spot my first Cliff Swallow this
morning along Wenzel Slough Rd.. I also did see the Loggerhead Shrike in
the morning, but not in the evening.

This evening at Vance Creek Park, on the main pond there were 5 scaup which
included 4 Lesser (2 males, 2 females) and one male Greater. You could
really see the difference in size as they were floating right next to each
other at very close range. Also on the pond, there was a single Common Loon
in breeding plumage. One Osprey was also calling from the nest snag located
opposite of the main pond. In the trees along the road, there were several
Yellow-rumped Warblers of both subspecies.

Good birding,

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