Tweeters, yesterday I completed my second BBS route, this time in Pacific
County. The route began near Bay Center at the intersection of Route 101
and the South Bend - Palix Road (the mouth of the Palix River). The first
section had access to some of the side 'marshes' of the river mouth and also
the 'marshes' around the Niawiakum River. This first part was interesting
and held MARSH WRENS (for some reason not on my checklist), tons of
SWAINSON'S THRUSH, and four flyover COMMON NIGHTHAWKS.

I followed the S/Bend-Palix Road through some clear-cuts and gained a bit of
elevation. This section held many VARIED THRUSH along the road, one singing
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was heard, BAND-TAILED PIGEONS were 'hooting'
everywhere and the vista views were nice at the top (MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS
were up here too). One of the highlights was hearing a COOPER'S HAWK in the
forest near a small swampy area.

This road (primitive, but you don't need high-clearance) leads into South
Bend where I had my first survey in a town. It was kind of neat to be
counting the usual city birds along with hearing forest dwellers at abutting
properties (all while the human residents were just waking up). Though
South Bend and Raymond had their share of House Sparrows and Starlings, they
also have the Willapa River flowing past town so I got to count my only two
GREEN HERON (flying in from their roosts) and also some G/W GULLS. I was
also surprised to hear EVENING GROSBEAKS in town along with some RED
CROSSBILLS.

The next portion of the route followed Route 6 towards Lebam. This section
was in the foothills of the Willapa hills and had a nice assortment of
habitats (ag pastures, riparian areas - followed Willapa River, and
Alder/B-L Maple sections). It follows that there was a nice assortment of
birds, including RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, SAVANNAH SPARROW, BREWER'S
BLACKBIRDS, more EVENING GROSBEAKS and a close-up view of a foraging male
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER at the hatchery. The best bird of this segment
was at mile marker 5 before the town of Menlo, one perched WESTERN SCRUB-JAY
on a power line. One of the most memorable moments of the route was along
the first stretch of Route 6 I had to stop (the BBS requires a stop every
half mile) right next to an escaped dairy COW (and to think I was worried
about Cougars). Luckily one of the residents driving by saw the cow and
herded it back home with his pickup.

A list of some of the more rare birds and birds with good numbers:
1 COMMON MERGANSER (female in flight, thank goodness I was writing faster
this time so I got a chance to scan the sky more often)
2 GREEN HERON (both in Raymond coming in to the Willapa River)
1 Turkey Vulture
1 BALD EAGLE
1 COOPER'S HAWK ('singing')
1 Red-tailed Hawk
1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER
1 Killdeer
3 Caspian Tern
18 Band-tailed Pigeon
4 COMMON NIGHTHAWK
4 Downy Woodpecker (for some reason left off the checklist)
2 R/Breated Sapsucker
34 Willow Flycatcher
1 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER
1 Hutton's Vireo
1 WESTERN SCRUB-JAY
43 Barn Swallow
103 Swainson's Thrush
3 Varied Thrush (many more flushed from the sides of the road)
1 MacGillivray's Warbler
9 Red Crossbill
9 Evening Grosbeak

I heard/saw a total of 65 species along this route. Even though I had to be
on the road at 2:30 AM, this was some of the most fun I've ever had birding.
The Breeding Bird Surveys make every bird 'count' and it challenges ears,
eyes and your patience (it's very hard to tear yourself away from a
suspected 'good' bird and get back in your car for the next 3 minute survey
1/2 mile away!). I urge any of you with GOOD BIRDING BY EAR skills
(necessary) to sign up for a route, this is a chance to use your talents for
something more just 'ticking'. And if that doesn't sway you, then sign up
for a route in a county that you need to 'pad' and you can get state and
county birds while helping out. I will admit that I partly accepted this
route hoping to get W/T Kite for a BBS bird! Anyway, sign up through this
website: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/

Jason Paulios
Jpaulios at earthlink.net
Olympia, WA