Hi Dave and Tweeters,
Jeff Jendro and I accessed this area today(9/8/10) by going straight out
from Glenoma Road and walking past the downed trees along the abandoned
road. We immediately had the GREAT EGRET in our sights and located the
COMMON TERNS out over the lake in a few minutes. We found at least 5 early
this afternoon. Next we heard a calling BAIRD'S SANDPIPER which did a big
circle in flight before disappearing into the grass nearby where we couldn't
relocate it, but rather flushed it and it settled into the grass much
farther away. Toward the end of our 1.5 hour stay we had a small flock of 3
PECTORAL SANDPIPERS fly low overhead while calling and disappear in the same
way. We also sighted two larger flocks of shorebirds(10-15) in flight but
were unable to get possitive IDs. One flock may have been pectorals and the
other some smaller peeps. It appears that some of the muddy patches in the
grass are getting attractive to shorebirds, but makes for some challanging
birding. Thanks to the Taylors and dave for the finds and the posts.
Russ Koppendrayer
Longview,Wa.

On Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 4:59 PM, Dave Hayden <dtvhm at nwrain.com> wrote:

> Today I headed out to the east end of Riffe Lake in search of the Great
> Egret that Rick & Tina Taylor had seen a few days ago. I arrived at 9:50am
> and found the GREAT EGRET by the shore of the lake within 5 minutes. The
> water level of the lake has gone down quite a bit from two weeks ago, but
> still remains high enough for the lack of shorebird activity. While scanning
> the lake I noticed a large flock of waterfowl close by in a sheltered area
> on the lake. I drove over to the lake access area, less than a quarter
> mile, just past the bridge. Walked out to the lake and checked them out.
> There were MALLARDS, CANADA GEESE, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 2 HOODED MERGANSERS,
> NORTHERN PINTAILS, AMERICAN WIGEON, 1 AMERICAN COOT, and 3 either CINNAMON
> or BLUE-WINGED TEAL. Just as I was about leave, I noticed a small gull like
> bird diving further out on the lake. It turned out to be a FORSTER'S TERN.
> Further scanning, I found 8 of them. I wathced them for while before heading
> over to the Taidnapum Boat Launch. At the boat launch there were 40+
> CALIFORNIA GULLS, 1 BALD EAGLE, 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER, 8 COMMON MERGANSERS,
> and lots of little toads. Other birds seen at the east end of the lake were;
> BAND-TAILED PIGEON - 3
> VAUX'S SWIFT - 1
> RED-TAILED HAWK - 1
> COMMON YELLOWTHROAT
> OSPREY - 1
> TURKEY VULTURE - 1
>
> With such a successful morning, I tried my luck on the west end of the
> lake, checking Swoford Pond as well. Very quiet at this end. I had 1
> AMERICAN DIPPER, 11 GADWALL, 2 BELTED KINGFISHER, 7 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and 2
> NORTHERN PINTAIL.
> A stop at the Salmon Hatchery got me 2 COMMON GOLDENEYE and 1 OPSREY. And
> a stop at the trout hatchery got me 3 more SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, 1 TURKEY
> VULTURE and a large flock of CEDAR WAXWINGS.
>
> Dave Hayden
> dtvhm AT nwrain.com
> Centralia, WA
>
>
>
>
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>
>
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