Hi Tweets, today I had the pleasure of leading a field trip for the Grays
Harbor Audubon Society (GHAS) around the Elma/Satsop/Brady area. Myself and
5 other birders were treated to great views of a lot of raptors and
waterfowl. Along the Brady Loop Rd., we encountered the following raptors:
Bald Eagle (immature), Red-tailed Hawk (at least 10), Rough-legged Hawk,
Northern Harrier (several females, one male), and one Cooper's Hawk. There
were a lot of swans and geese on the move as well. At Vance Creek park on
the pond closest to the airport, there were about 50 Trumpeter Swans there
in the morning. This group included the green neck-collared Trumpeter swan
(31T) that has been in the area for over a month now.

Up at the former Satsop Nuclear plant, we had one Eurasian Wigeon mixed in
with the hundreds of other ducks on the mitigation pond. Other species on
the pond here included Mallard, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon,
Bufflehead, Northern Shoveler, and Ring-necked Duck.

On Brady Loop Rd. near Willis St., there was a nice group of Tundra Swans
right next to a group of about 20 "Dusky" Canada Geese. Also, on our way
down Brady Loop Rd. back towards the highway, a flock of 15 Western
Meadowlarks flew across the road in front of us. Overall, it was a good day
of birding.

The one bird we dipped on as a group was the White-tailed Kite that has been
seen around the Elma airport area along Wenzel Slough Rd. We looked all
over this morning for it but had no luck. However, after we ended the field
trip, on the way home I stopped by the airport again with the hopes of
locating the bird. I scanned the area to the south of the airport with no
success. I then started looking elsewhere and spotted a whitish bird on top
of a fir tree far to the east. I got closer and confirmed it was a
White-tailed Kite. It was best viewed from Wakefield Rd. just south of
Wenzel Slough Rd.. The kite was located on the eastern side of the road on
top of a lone fir tree out in the field.

Good birding,

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