Hi Tweeters -
I had an enjoyable, if not too eventful, day of birding in Lewis Co.
today - My route took me south on SR7 from Tacoma to SR12. Along 12,
I stopped at Riffe Lake, then headed west. In the afternoon, I drove
west of I-5 along Pleasant Valley Rd. and then over to Rainbow Falls
SP. Finally, I ended the day in Centralia looking for ducks & gulls.

A couple notable sightings:

HORNED GREBE - Mossyrock Hatchery, Mossyrock [Delorme p. 46 D-4/5]

EURASIAN WIGEON - Mayfield Lake County Park, near Silver Creek
[Delorme p. 46 D-4]

WESTERN SCRUB-JAY - Many locations including just east & just north
of Marys Corner, and at Rainbow Falls SP, along the Willapa Hills
trail.

AM. DIPPER - near entrance bridge to Rainbow Falls SP. [Delorme p.45 C/D-7]

PEREGRINE FALCON - flying across SR 6 at mp 50, a little ways west of Chehalis

WESTERN GREBE - one in Centralia, in the southern pond along the east
side of I-5. [Delorme p. 46 B/C-1]

WESTERN GULL & HERRING GULL - Centralia - in with a mostly
Glaucous-winged flock that I came across sitting on the roof of the
Econolodge in Centralia. A few of the juvs looked like possible
Thayers to me too, but I'm not up to speed on my winter gulls yet. As
I watched, the flock flew to the northern pond along the east side of
I-5.

About these Centralia ponds - they are visible from I-5 as you drive
north, and can be with a little wandering if you exit where all the
factory outlets are. The northern pond is behind some of the stores &
can be viewed from their back alley. The southern pond seemed close
to the next freeway exit to the south, but I just wandered until I
ran across it.

Many locations were pretty empty - I especially had trouble coming up
with ducks today, other than a few Mallards, a flock of Wigeons & a
couple Ring-neckeds. Riffe Lake was empty but for a couple
Cormorants, as was Mineral Lake [except PB Grebes & a couple
Mallards].

Finally, for anyone interested in a big ole flock of black birds to
sort through, try the intersection of Pleasant Valley Rd. & Twin Oaks
- Many hundreds were present, mostly starlings, rwbl, brewers &
crows. But perhaps there's a Rusty hiding in there. As an added
bonus, this site comes with a lovely aroma....


Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA

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