Hello Tweets,

Yesterday afternoon(January 28th)the RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was again present along Independence Rd. near the community of Independence,but remained very elusive. The bird unlike past visits was heard calling loudly on several occasions during our visit during the on and off rain showers and partial clearing. The bird was also observed in both Thurston and Lewis Cos.,but favored areas on the Thurston Co. side primarily from the area behind the residence of 13149 on Independence Rd. We observed the bird spending a great deal of time perching in deciduous trees behind this residence as we watched it from the road at a safe distance. The bird one of these occasions after staring at the ground for some time eventually dropped down and caught an unknown animal then flew of to an area hidden from our view. Overall these was a good assortment of raptors in the general area from our main vantage point at the entrance road to the property of 13149 Independence Rd.,which lies just south of Van Dyke Rd. just before entering into Lewis Co. This location offers the best possible viewing of the bird since it offers the most ample surround viewing of the entire area on both sides of the road. There is a small,but ample pull-off for just a few cars from this location and the residents don't seem at all bothered by the presence of birders and if nothing else seem interested in knowing about the bird. We have placed 5 new photos of the Red-shouldered Hawk taken yesterday onto our photo website,which can be accessed at the following link: http://www.pbase.com/godwit/recent_photos/

Our other good bird while watching the Red-shouldered Hawk was an immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK observed from a tall deciduous tree behind the property of 13129 Independence Rd.,where it remained for about 5 minutes before descending down behind the property. Other raptor species of note from this location included the following:

3 Bald Eagles(1 adult and 2 immature birds)
1-2 immature male Northern Harriers
1 adult Cooper's Hawk
3 adult Red-tailed Hawks
1 male Am.Kestrel

There are as in past visits good numbers of Common Ravens in the immediate area and often chase the Red-shouldered Hawk and other raptors around. A single AM.PIPIT was also noted flying overhead during our visit.

On our way we made a short stop at the end of Meadows Rd. in Thurston Co.,where flooded areas yielded very good numbers of waterfowl consisting primarily of Green-winged Teal,Am.Wigeon and Northern Pintails. Notable species observed from this location included the following:

35 Tundra Swans
3 Trumpeter Swans
1 male Eurasian Wigeon

Further east back in Lewis Co. a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was observed at the residence of 211 Goodrich Rd.,which was most likely the same individual bird than we noted at this same location on the 22nd of January.


Our mammal highlight of the day was a Coyote in a large,open field along Prather Rd. just east of the Chehalis River.



Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Fircrest,WA
godwit at worldnet.att.net