Today Mike and MerryLynn Denny joined me in birding Lewis County. Places we
birded in order are School House Road with lots of Savannah Sparrows moving
through and 2 Western Meadowlarks singing on top of small evergreens then on
up to Cowlitz Prairie hoping for Bluebirds or Say's Phoebes, but couldn't
even find a White-tailed Kite.

We made a quick stop for diving ducks at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery. Lots
of Barrow's Goldeneyes, Buffleheads, 3 Bald Eagles, Double-crested
Cormorants and 57 Dunlin along the edge where the hatchery releases young
fish.

Ike Kinswa State Park was full of Winter Wrens singing their hearts out and
the 'for sure' Hutton's Vireo wouldn't say a word leaving Brown Creepers and
Purple Finches alone to sing with the Winter Wrens.

Swafford Pond produced a Wilson's Snipe, Pied-billed Grebes, White-crowned
Sparrow, Ring-necked Ducks, Coots, Bufflehead, American Wigeon and more
Purple Finches singing from distant hillsides. We checked the shoreline
along that part of Riffe Lake and it was birdless. Riffe Lake water level
is super low.

On the east end of Riffe Lake were some of our better birds. 1 Common Loon
in breading plumage, 1 Eared Grebe, 1+ Horned Grebes, 3 Red-necked Grebes,
lots of Western Grebes and a possible Clark's Grebe that got away which
would be a 'County First'. It swam back into a cove where we couldn't
locate it to check out all the field marks. Bright orange bill jumped out
at us with lots of white in the face and the whole bird seamed lighter in
color. The main problem was the distance and short duration of time that we
had to see it. Might be good if someone who has a good scope to check this
bird out. Sort of by itself, but not far from the Western Grebes across the
lake on the left bank.

Centralia Steam Plant area produced several Eurasian Wigeons, several
Long-billed Dowitchers, 1 Greater Yellowlegs, more Wilson's Snipe, Marsh
Wrens and 100's of swallows (Tree and Violet-green).

Are last good bird was south of Mellon Street exit on the west side of I-5
mixed in with 500 Canada Geese was one lone Snow Goose.

A total of 70 species isn't too bad for March birding in Lewis County. 71
counting the Osprey along the river at Castle Rock in Cowlitz County.


Ken Knittle
Washington Birder newsletter
2604 NE 80th Street
Vancouver, WA 98665
360-574-2590
mailto:washingtonbirder at hotmail.com