Birding with Tom Mansfield in Wahkiakum County today we began by trying for the Saw-whet Owl on the hill side above County Line Park on Hwy 4. Only thing we could chum in was a state trooper who pulled his car in front of ours and turned his headlights off and turned his radar on. Didn't know that they would respond so quick to Saw-whet calls. It only took 10 secs. So back to finding owls on Puget Island where a Barn Owl flew in front of our headlights just as on gets on the island. Later near dawn a distant Great Horned Owl began calling.

After day break we checked the Cathlamet marina and one of the few gulls was a Western Gull adult and 1 Spotted Sandpiper. Heading next to Little Puget Island on the west side of the hwy was 1 White-tailed Kite and while watching him a Sharp-shinned Hawk was hanging low near the slough watching both the kite and us before it slunk away. It was strange to see a pure flock of White-crowned Sparrows. The only ones of the day as all other sparrows were Golden-crowned with Song and Fox sprinkled in.

On Puget Island a female White-winged Scoter was hanging out with a large flock of scaup along the southwestern shore of the island. This is a rarity off Puget Island, even though they are seen occasionally off Altoona. Heading east of the ferry dock we encountered 6 Eurasian Collared-Doves. I think this is only the second sighting for Wahkiakum Co. Also 1 Western Meadowlark was seen near some soon to be construction site with fresh dirt/sand covering the whole area.

Birding Julia Butler Hansen NWR another kite show itself from the refuge headquarters. Further west 1 Rough-legged Hawk was sitting on the ground. On the western end of the refuge a Northern Pygmy-Owl paid us a visit along with 6 Steller's Jays and a Hutton's Vireo not enjoying their new visitor the owl.

Altooona was lunch time and while eating we noted Surf Scoters, Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Common Loon, 100's of western Grebes, a flock of Tundra Swans flew over calling. No White-winged Scoters this time. There was a small sand island due west of Altoona which had Black-bellied Plovers and Dunlin resting on it. Also along the tide line near us was another Spotted Sandpiper. I have seen Spotted in winter along here many times before. On our way north towards Rosburg we saw a nice adult Peregrine Falcon.

We had a great day in nice sunshine once it warmed up.
Ken KnittleVancouver WA 98665 mailto:washingtonbirder at hotmail.com Washington Birder online http://www.wabirder.com/