Tweeters,

Paul Hicks asked me to forward his account of birding in south Thurston County.

Bob Sundstrom

----- Original Message -----
From: Colleen Hicks
To: ixoreus at scattercreek.com
Sent: Friday, July 04, 2008 1:44 PM
Subject: Lazuli Buntings, Chat, etc just off I-5/Grand Mound


Tweets,
I encountered up to 10 Lazuli Buntings (without really trying)between I-5 and Tenino on Friday morning. 5-6 males were together on Melville St. in the NW corner of the broom patch. At the end of Melville a chat was calling (same spot as last 2 seasons), though it took 10 minutes before it "woke up." Melville St skirts the northwest edge of Rock Prairie. >From I-5 exit 88 (Grand Mound) drive ENE on Old Hwy 99 toward Tenino for about 5 miles, then turn left (north). Another interesting spot for prairie-woodland-riparian species is a bridge across Scatter Creek on a lane opposite Marsh St about 2-3 miles from I-5. A Cassin's Vireo was present (3rd of the morning), along with an assortment of flycatchers (pewee), warblers, and woodpeckers. Oriole is a possibility here, too. [There's another bridge at the first N, Gibson Rd, east of the race track.] Just east of Tenino, within a mile of the intersection of Mull/Churchill & SR507, four vireo species were present, including at least 4 Red-eyed. 72 species on the morning. Good birding!
--Paul Hicks, Tenino, s. Thurston Co
phicks AT accessgrace.org