Subject: Harris' Sparrow continues near Woodland
Date: Jan 27 20:00:49 2004
From: Ruth Sullivan - godwit at worldnet.att.net


Hello Tweets,

Today my mother and I birded several areas beginning along the Dike Access Rd. complex near Woodland,Cowlitz Co. then traveling to the Juliet Butler Hansen NWR in Wahkiakum Co. Weather conditions remained quite cloudy and foggy at times with isolated light rain showers with some partial clearing. Our main highlight of the day was the immature Harris' Sparrow(previously reported on January 24th by Marcus Roening onto Tweeters),which was observed at presumably the same location he observed the bird near the south end of Roberson Rd.(accessed off of Whalen Rd.) Whalen Rd. can be accessed from the west along Dike Rd. or from the east near Horseshoe Lake from the city of Woodland. The Harris' Sparrow was observed at 11:30am amongst a small flock of Golden-crowned Sparrows and House Finches in a small blackberry bramble patch(just north of a canal noted on the east side of the road north of the dead end of Roberson Rd.). The general area near the dead end of Roberson Rd. actually hosted fairly good numbers of both Golden-crowned and White-crowned Sparrows,Dark-eyed"Oregon"Juncos,and other sparrows. There are scattered patches of blackberry patches and other vegetation(including vast grape vineyards)noted along both sides of the road,primarily north of the dead end and the area is primarily on private property and parking is very limited with several NO Trespassing signs posted along the road,as well. Other noteworthy species noted from the end of Roberson Rd. included the following:

3 Northern Harriers
1 Am.Kestrel
15 California Quail
350+ Sandhill Cranes
1 Barn Owl
2 Western Scrub Jays
4 Savannah Sparrows
5 Lincoln's Sparrows
very large numbers of both Red-winged and Brewer's Blackbirds

Additional notable highlights observed during our visit within the Dike Access Rd. complex(including Caples Rd.)included the following:

5 Great Egrets
28"Dusky"Canada Geese
4 Northern Harriers
6 Am.Kestrels
120+ Sandhill Cranes
2 Wilson's Snipes
25 Mourning Doves
3 Western Scrub Jays
54+ Savannah Sparrows
12 Lincoln's Sparrows


We arrived at the Juliet Butler Hansen NWR headquarters in Wahkiakum Co.at 3pm,but were unable to locate the Black Phoebe lingering at this location. A few highlights noted within our fairly short visit to this area included the following:

1 female Eurasian Wigeon
1 Ruddy Duck
8 adult White-tailed Kites
3 Northern Harriers
4 Am.Kestrels
73 Dunlin
25 Western Meadowlarks

On our way home we made a short,brief stop at a pull-off along Hwy.4 overlooking Willow Island(west of the Longview STP in Cowlitz Co.),where a pair of White-tailed Kites were observed hunting and sitting atop a large bush together. Our final stop of the day was made at Lake Sacajawea in Longview,where 3 male Eurasian Wigeons and 1 Western Gull were noted. Other highlights noted to and from destinations during the day included the following:

22 Tundra Swans along I-5 at MP31 north of Kalama,Cowlitz Co.
1 Cooper's Hawk along I-5 at Chehalis,Lewis Co.
1 Red-breasted Sapsucker observed flying over I-5 south of Tumwater,Thurston Co.


Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
godwit at worldnet.att.net






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