I started at the east end of Riffe Lake today. The lake level still continues to drop, and the ducks and geese have left for the most part. Still hanging around were 5 MALLARDS, 18 HOODED MERGANSERS, and 2 NORTHERN PINTAILS. There was no wind this morning, so the lake was like glass. This made for ideal conditions for scoping the deep water. Seen were 8 COMMON LOONS, 1 PIED-BILLED GREBE, 6 HORNED GREBES, 4 RED-NECKED GREBES, 20 WESTERN GREBES, and 1 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT. There are two nice large isolated ponds for shorebirds. Seen were 4 KILLDEER, 4 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, and 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER. CALIFORNIA GULLS are still numerous. In the mix were 1 RING-BILLED GULL and 1 HERRING GULL. In the open areas where the lake has now dried up, lots of short tuffs of grass make great habitiat for all the AMERICAN PIPTS, over 30 were seen, along with 8 SAVANNAH SPARROWS.
The other place that I birded was Sand Lake Trail #60 accessed just before the end of FR1284. I hiked just over a 1/2 mile, up the steep trail to an old burn. Once to the burn, it levels off. Just inside the burn area there is a 15ft in diameter shallow pond. I noticed a few birds using the pond, so I sat on a log about 25ft away and watched for thirty minutes. During this time I had 5 GRAY JAYS, 6 TOWNSEND SOLITAIRES, 1 HERMIT THRUSH, 1 VARIED THRUSH, 1 AMERICAN ROBIN, 2 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, 3 DARK-EYED JUNCOS, and 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK that flew over. That turned out to be a productive sit, but I was really looking for woodpeckers. It was not as productive in that species, but I did find 1 NORTHERN FLICKER and 1 AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER.


Dave Hayden
dtvhm AT nwrain.com
Centralia, WA









Location: Sand Lake Trail 60
Observation date: 10/5/10
Number of species: 10

Northern Goshawk 1
American Three-toed Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Gray Jay 5
Townsend's Solitaire 6
Hermit Thrush 1
American Robin 1
Varied Thrush 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Dark-eyed Junco 3