While biking on the Chehalis-Western Trail at about 12:50 PM on 6/5/2011, my
wife and I saw two Scissor-tailed Flycatchers. Riding ahead of me, my wife
saw one fly over the trail headed to the east and wondered aloud "what was
that?" I missed that one because I was looking at another perched on a
utility wire. It stayed there for good long look and was still perched when
I left the area. The location where we spotted the birds is about a mile
south of the Monarch Contemporary Art Center and between where the trail
intersects with Waldrick Road and Military Road. After intersecting with
the trail, Waldrick Road turns south and runs parallel, and very close to,
the trail. At this point, Waldrick Road is on the west side of the trail.
The utility poles are very short along this rural road and the utility lines
are between Waldrick Road and the trail. The total sight distance from me
to the perched bird was probably about 50 feet. I got clear looks at the
pale gray head, breast and underside, dark wings, and an unmistakably long,
split tail. When perched, the two parts of the tail were only slightly
apart. When flying, the parts were spread wide, like the photo in Sibley,
which my wife recognized as the bird she saw. There are open fields /
pastures on both sides of the trail and road. There is a thin row of small
trees along the east side of the trail. For non bikers, one may be able to
park in an area just to the east side of the trail and just off Waldrick
Road. One will see a large livestock watering tank just inside the pasture.
I have seen a vehicle parked there that was probably the owner of the land;
so, I'd make sure to leave room for at least another vehicle. There is more
parking available near the Monarch Contemporary Art Center, just off the
trail and there is varied bird habitat along the trail between the center
and where we saw the flycatchers. What a wonderful bird to see on a really
nice day!



Burney Huff

Lakewood, WA

Burney dot Huff at mindspring dot com