Subject: [Tweeters] Clark's Grebe at Riffe Lake,Lewis Co.
Date: Oct 27 19:10:31 2004
From: Ruth Sullivan - godwit at worldnet.att.net
Hello Tweets,
Today my mother and I took advantage of the nice weather and checked a few locations in Lewis Co.,specifically in the Riffe and Mayfield Lake areas. The weather remained exceptional all day with some hazy conditions due to clear-cut burning etc.and fall color was especially noteworthy from many areas. Our main highlight of the day was a Clark's Grebe amongst a group of 12 Western Grebes observed from a small access area at the eastern edge of Riffe Lake(accessed from the town of Glenoma). the bird rested and preened most of the time offering great views of all the major field marks compared to the nearby darker plumaged Western Grebes. We spent considerable time scoping the eastern portion of Riffe Lake,which is currently low hosting vast areas of rocky,muddy areas and lighting conditions were especially good during our visit at 1pm. Other noteworthy sightings from this area included 2 Pacific Loons,1 Red-throated Loon,and a single female Red-breasted Merganser.
>From Riffe Lake we worked our way south to Mossyrock to check the western portion of Riffe Lake,including visits made at Mossyrock Park and Swofford Pond(both accessed from the town of Mossyrock). A check made at Mossyrock produced a single White-winged Scoter amongst a flock of 8 Buffleheads. Our last stop of the day was made at Mayfield Lake S.P.(accessed off of Hwy.12)which produced a single Spotted Sandpiper and a flock of 35 "Cackling"Canada Geese. Other species of note encountered during the day included the following:
Common Loon
12 at the eastern portion of Riffe Lake
4 at Mossrock Park
3 at Mayfield Lake S.P.
Horned Grebe
2 at the eastern portion of Riffe Lake
2 at Mossyrock Park
1 at Mayfield S.P.
Red-necked Grebe
1 at the eastern portion of Riffe Lake
Western Grebe
28 at the eastern portion of Riffe Lake
8 at Mossyrock Park
Wood Duck
4 at Swofford Pond
Ring-necked Duck
28 at Mineral Lake(accessed along Mineral Rd. off of Hwy.7)
37 at Swofford Pond
12 at the Mossyrock STP
Greater Scaup
4 at Swofford Pond
4 at the Mossyrock STP
Lesser Scaup
16 at Swofford Pond
8 at the Mossyrock STP
Barrow's Goldeneye
1 pair at Mossyrock Park
Bufflehead
12 at Mineral Lake
15 at Mossyrock Park
29 at Swofford Pond
17 at Mossyrock STP
Northern Harrier
1 along Ajlune Rd. east of Mossyrock
Cooper's Hawk
1 at Swofford Pond
Golden Eagle
1 adult along Hwy.7 between Morton and Mineral
Am.Coot
30+ at Swofford Pond
Mew Gull
1 at Mayfield Lake S.P.(with 2 California Gulls,4 Ring-billed Gulls, and 1 Glacous-winged Gull)
California Gull
17 at the eastern portion of Riffe Lake
Herring Gull
5 at the eastern portion of Riffe Lake
Red-breasted Sapsucker
1 along Hwy.7 at Alder,Pierce Co.
Pileated Woodpecker
1 calling bird heard at Swofford Pond
Gray Jay
1 along Hwy.7 between Morton and Mineral
Western Scrub Jay
1 at Morton
Western Bluebird
7 along Ajlune Rd. north of Mossyrock
Am.Pipit
1 at the eastern portion of Riffe Lake
Pine Siskin
250+ at the eastern portion of Riffe Lake
120+ at Mossyrock Park
300+ at Mayfield Lake S.P.
In addition we noted 3 lingering species of dragonflies noted at Swofford Pond near Mossyrock including the following species:
Shadow Darner
Striped Meadowhawk
Western Meadowhawk
Good birding,
Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Fircrest,WA
godwit at worldnet.att.net