I spent today mostly along sr12 in Lewis county, stopping here and
there to see what might turn up. Best of all was _not_ spending the
day in a downpour, as the weather experts seemed to have promised -

Highlights:
OSPREY - 1 seen late in the day at the Cowlitz Trout Hatchery
[Delorme pg 32 A-3]. It was sitting atop a large snag visible from
the trout hatchery parking lot, but not [yet?] at the nearby Osprey
nest.

GREEN HERON - 1 walking on the netting looking down at the young fish
['smolt', right?] in the hatchery tanks at the other Cowlitz Hatchery
[Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery, further east along sr 12, at about Salkum
(Delorme pg 46 D-4]. Strange to see a Green Heron standing on all
that concrete and netting instead of blending into some natural
background....

EURASIAN WIGEON - 1 among AmWi flock on Riffe Lake. Seen from the
eastern end of Riffe Lake, accessed off sr12 between Morton & Glenoma.

GRAY JAY, RED CROSSBILL - Up near White Pass, a couple side roads
were open for short stops to look for higher elevation birds. Roads
were fine through the pass today, but the snow is deep up there so
off-road hiking wasn't really an option.

EVENING GROSBEAK - Several by the Mineral Lake boat launch in
Mineral. Mineral is on SR 7, well north of SR 12 [Delorme pg 47,
C-7]. I have a hard time ever finding Evening Grosbeak (except in
S.Cle Elum), so these were a welcome sight.

AMERICAN DIPPER - Just north of Morton, where the Tilton River comes
close to SR 7. Seen from the bridge for FR70, which is closed to
traffic, but walkable. [Delorme pg 47, D-6] Always fun to watch a
Dipper.

CANVASBACK(1), WESTERN GREBE (6) - Mayfield Lake, from the area
around Ike Kinswa SP.

Otherwise, lots of singing going on in the springlike weather out
there - A good day.

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA
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