Tweets, Saturday mid-morning I birded west of Tenino: Melville St, Equus Ln
and Gibson Rd (2.5 mi E of I-5 Grandmound exit 88). Nothing eye-popping but
some interesting birds nonetheless:
- 2 W-T KITES at an expansive field, Gibson x 173rd, about 2 miles west of
the kite site on Melville (none there). One soared with ravens on a thermal
3-4x the height of the high voltage towers. Check the Christmas tree
plantation edge to the north.
- 1 KESTREL, 3-4 N HARRIER, 2 R-T HAWK, 3 T VULTURE, 8 C RAVEN also present,
and 13 AM PIPITS on the utility wire
- 31 species at Equus Ln, further E of Gibson off of Old Hwy 99. This small
area of riparian-prairie-woodland, including a crossing over Scatter Creek,
consistently hosts a good variety.
- 1 WW PEWEE, a bit late, calling persistently at Equus
- 1 + 2 GREEN HERONs on Scatter Creek at Equus & at Gibson
Last week a couple of young-looking HOUSE WRENs were still present along
Melville. Good birding!
--Paul Hicks, Tenino, s. Thurston Co / phicks AT accessgrace.org