Today, I took a drive to explore some areas of the south part of the Olympics near Lake Quinault. I birded the mainly from the forest roads making stops at the Campbell Tree Grove and the Wynoochee Dam. There was a lot of bird activity so it was a fun trip despite the constant pothole avoidance. Here's my highlights:

Hammond's Flycatcher - heard in the Campbell Tree Grove campground

Vaux's Swift - one seen from FR# 2280 near the trailhead for the Pete's Creek trail

Gray Jays - heard a few along FR# 2204 after doing some owl tooting, Townsend's Warbler here too

MacGillivray's Warbler - one seen and heard along FR# 2280 near the end of the road above Campbell Tree Grove

Common Nighthawk - at least two flying above clearcuts along FR# 22 west of Wynoochee Dam (at about 1:30pm)

At the Wynoochee Dam, I watched a pair of Violet-green Swallows with several Barn Swallows flying and landing on the spillway side of the dam. Also, one Northern Rough-winged Swallow was seen flying into a nest hole in the rock face opposite of you when you are viewing the dam from the lower viewpoint.

All along the route I took there were many Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Western Tanager, Varied Thrush, Swainson's Thrush, Winter Wren, and more singing their hearts out.

Good birding,

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





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