Today I checked Helmicks Pond, which is along the Willipa Hills Trail, accessed at Mauerman Rd. and Hwy 6. Three homes border one side while the trail borders the other, and it was quite acitve today. I had 19 species in less than 15 minutes. The best birds were GREEN HERON and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER.
After, I spent some time on the Willipa Hills Trail near Adna. Here I had 32 species. The best birds were GREAT HORNED OWL, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (new for the trail), and WILSON'S WARBLER.
The Willipa Hills Trail is an old railroad line. It starts by I-5 and runs west to Raymond, and has many points of access. That's about all I know right now.
I also made a quick stop at the farm pond on Kings Rd. hoping for some shorebirds. Only had 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS.
Here are the complete list seen today for the two areas.


Location: Willipa Hills Trail near Adna

Canada Goose 2
Mallard 3
Green-winged Teal 15
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Band-tailed Pigeon 8
Mourning Dove 1
Great Horned Owl 1
Rufous Hummingbird 3
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Steller's Jay 5
American Crow 3
Common Raven 2
Violet-green Swallow 6
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 10
Brown Creeper 2
Bewick's Wren 5
Winter Wren 3
American Robin 15
Orange-crowned Warbler 8
Yellow-rumped Warbler 36
Common Yellowthroat 18
Wilson's Warbler 2
Spotted Towhee 4
Song Sparrow 17
Golden-crowned Sparrow 4
Dark-eyed Junco 1
Red-winged Blackbird 4
Purple Finch 2


Location: Helmicks Pond

Wood Duck 10
Mallard 1
Green Heron 1
Band-tailed Pigeon 3
Rufous Hummingbird 1
American Crow 3
Violet-green Swallow 5
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 4
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
American Robin 5
Orange-crowned Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 25
Black-throated Gray Warbler 1
Spotted Towhee 2
Song Sparrow 4
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Brewer's Blackbird 3
Purple Finch 2

Dave Hayden
dtvhm AT nwrain.com
Centralia, WA