Subject: [Tweeters] Brady to Satsop this morning - Sandhill Cranes,
Date: Apr 10 11:38:25 2007
From: Tim O'Brien - kertim7179 at yahoo.com


This morning I checked out the Brady Loop area and Wenzel Slough Rd.. The two Barnacle Geese continue and were located on the western side of Brady Loop Rd.. At the southern end of Foster Rd. in the corn stubble field off to the west, there was a lone Sandhill Crane. On the eastern side of the loop near the intersection with Willis St., there were several Black-bellied Plovers with a few Dunlin mixed in. Also, a gull flock here contained at least 5 Bonaparte's Gulls that were all sporting their dark helmets.

Along Foster Rd., closer to the northern end, a lone Greater White-fronted Goose was wandering in the flooded grass. It was vocalizing a sad sounding honk and seemed to be out of place. Hopefully, it isn't injured.

Moving on to Wenzel Slough Rd., I parked and scanned the fields at the first sharp right hand corner coming from Keys Rd.. Here I located a small flock of 7 Sandhill Cranes that were out in a field to the south towards the highway. Also, here in a muddy field just to the east of the corner, I found one Lesser Yellowlegs with about 5 Greater Yellowlegs. Luckily, for me the Lesser was foraging right with the Greaters so the size comparison was very easy. Also, the short bill length was the first indicator that had me thinking Lesser.

Lastly, I found my first of the season Northern Rough-winged Swallows flying along the eastern end of Wenzel Slough Rd., where it hugs the Chehalis River closely.

It was nice and sunny this morning, but as I type the big, dark shower clouds are building and soon it will be wet out.

Tim O'Brien
Elma, WA
mailto: kertim7179 at yahoo.com



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