Hello Tweeters,

I managed to get my son Deyland out of the house to go birding in the Elma area today. Our first stop was at Vance Creek County Park, and, as noted by the Sullivans yesterday, the male and female Redheads were still present at the far end of the pond from the open parking lot. We walked the paved trail that circles the pond and had nice close-ups of the ducks. There is a lot of very recent evidence of beavers and an early morning or evening visit might find them out and about. Among the other birds in the area were Greater Scaup, Pied-billed Grebe, Common Merganser and a Bald Eagle.

Driving down Wenzel Slough Rd., we spotted our first Osprey of the year, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, 1 Rough-legged Hawk being harassed by a Northern Harrier, and, on the north side of the road, just before it meets Keys Rd., there was a flock of 160+ swans (probably more, as every now and then swan heads would pop up out of ditches or depressions in the field). As also noted yesterday by the Sullivan's, the Bewick's Swan was present and very easily seen with a scope. Most of the flock were Trumperters, but a few Tundra Swans were also present.

Lots of ducks and geese were out, especially along the Brady Loop Road complex. We found a couple of Eurasian Wigeons off of Foster Road (being careful to pronounce them without the 'd', lest we insult any of them unduly).

On one final note, I've been hearing Morning Doves calling for the second day in a row now at my house in West Olyjmpia. We have had a resident flock of them all winter. Last year was the first year that I heard them call in this area.

Good birding,

Lonnie Somer
wheelermombi at comcast.net
Olympia, WA