Hello Tweets,

Today we birded a few areas between the Oakville area to the Brady area in eastern Grays Harbor Co. We began in the Oakville area,where we searched unsuccessfully after 11am for the adult female Acorn Woodpecker in the oak woodland along Blockhouse Rd. This location was very quiet,but a few notable species were encountered despite not seeing the Acorn Woodpecker. The Acorn Woodpecker could still be in the area,but as it stays it may wander over a wider area. 6 California Quail, 2 Pileated Woodpeckers, a single Red-breasted Sapsucker, 2 calling Western Wood Pewees and 2 Chipping Sparrows were highlights encountered within the woodland area. Nearby along he eastern side of Blockhouse Rd. and north of Elma-Gate Rd. East were 2 cooperative WESTERN KINGBIRDS resting on a fenceline along the edge of an open field. In the skies above an adult GOLDEN EAGLE was observed being closely pursued by an immature Bald Eagle before they finally drifted off in separate directions. We have placed 3 photos of the Western Kingbird(s) onto our website,which can be accessed at the following link: http://www.pbase.com/godwit/recent_photos/

Further southeast of Blockhouse Rd. we checked a lush riparian area along Howanut Rd. south of the Black River that produced a nice RED-EYED VIREO that was only seen and not heard attracted to our efforts of heavy "pishing". This was an area where we had observed Red-eyed Vireos in past years during late May-June,where they most likely breed locally. Other species in the immediate area included a few singing Black-headed Grosbeaks and our only Bullock's Oriole of the day.

>From the Oakville area we traveled northwest towards Elma via Hwy.12. We made a short visit to a nice wetland area along Monte-Brady area that still remains flooded west of Foster Rd. Here, we located the 2 lingering Barnacle Geese grazing on vegetation along with a single Cackling Goose. Nearby, in areas that held more mud we located a pair of Cinnamon Teal, 3 Greater Yellowlegs and 7 Long-billed Dowitchers.


Good birding,

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