Subject: elma/satsop birding (Grays Harbor Co.)
Date: Feb 3 18:20:28 2004
From: Tim O'Brien - kertim7179 at centurytel.net


Hi Tweets, I got out this afternoon and did a little birding around my usual
areas around Elma. Wenzel Slough Rd. is closed at the western end due to
flooding. However, before I turned around I did manage to spot one male
Wood Duck in one of the flooded fields. In the same area were two male
Common Goldeneye. Also on Wenzel Slough, I relocated the partially albino
Canada Goose that I had seen on January 23rd on the Brady Loop Rd. It was
much closer to me today and it truly is a very unique looking goose and not
very hard to miss.

At the Keys Rd. boat launch, I had my first Common Mergansers of the year.
Six females and four males were swimming in a pond just to the north of the
launch.

I followed Keys Rd. up to the Satsop Development Park (the old nuke plant),
where I spotted a single American Kestrel perched on a utility line. At the
mitigation pond along Utility Lane, duck numbers continue to be good.
Today's assortment included Mallard, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler,
Bufflehead, American Wigeon, and at least three Gadwall. The Gadwall were
another first for the year.

Good birding,

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