Hello Tweets,

This afternoon at 1pm during windy conditions we relocated the CLARK'S GREBE at the north end of American Lake observed from" American Lake Park "in Pierce Co. This is most likely the same individual bird than we noted on American Lake on the 5th of November. This park is accessed from Veteran's Drive in Lakewood and offers god view from the north end of the lake,as you look south. The Clark's Grebes was well observed showing it's bright orange-yellow bill,as well as crisp pale gray sides and flanks as it rode the waves. We located the Clark's Grebe alone with no Western Grebes nearby,as it swam towards the extreme northeast corner of the lake so essentially we were scoping along the water's edge from American Lake Park looking east. Much of American lake is not accessible due to private homes,but there are several areas accessible to the public for viewing such as Harry Todd Park,American Lake Park and the public boat launch at the south end of the lake,which are all accessible from I-5.

Due to the rather choppy water during our visit much of all the waterbirds were confined to the immediate shoreline surrounding the lake at different locations,but a few birds ventured out into the lake itself such as all of the 8 Western Grebes we did encounter from various locations. Good numbers of American Coot and Bufflehead continue to be the most abundant species on the lake with smaller numbers of a few other species including Pied-billed Grebe,Common Goldeneye,Common Merganser,and Greater and Lesser Scaup.

A list of a few other notable species on Am.Lake encountered away from the Clark's Grebe included the following:

1 Common Loon
1 male Barrow's Goldeneye
1 female Red-breasted Merganser
1 adult Sharp-shinned Hawk
25 Band-tailed Pigeons
1 Western Scrub Jay


We spent a few hours after birding Am.Lake from the Steilacoom waterfront to Titlow Beach with very few other species. Our only other highlight of the day was a female Eurasian Wigeon amongst a flock of 80 Am.Wigeon at Titlow Beach Park.


Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Fircrest,WA
godwit513 at msn.com