After looking at the photos and wanting a little clearer view of a likely Yellow-billed Loon, this morning I followed the area described and extended west and north along the Lewis River, Columbia River, and the Dike Road channel that dead ends near I-5.? In the Lewis River I found a Common Loon, 2 Pacific Loons, and a Red-throated Loon (none looked anything like the photographed bird yesterday.) ? Once the rain started and near the mouth of the Lewis River, I had a quick view of a loon of interest.? I got the scope on it just as it dove a second time.? Russ Kopendrayer and Ann Kahle pulled up and I got them on the spot, but it never surfaced in view.? A loon more than a half mile downstream in the mainstem Columbia was too far to ID in the rain.? Continuing down the Columbia I found another Pacific Loon, and in the dike borrow channel two more.? Seems like a large number of Pacific Loons for 80+ miles up the Columbia when only one Common Loon was found.



Randy Hill?
Ridgefield


----- Original Message -----


From: "John & Loraine Allinger" <jonymike at pacifier.com>
To: "Tweeters" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2012 6:14:09 AM
Subject: [Tweeters] 21 Congregating Great Egrets and Interesting Loons -????????Woodland Bottoms, Lewis River - Cowlitz (& Clark) Counties







At Woodland Bottoms on Saturday afternoon, 28 Jan 2012.? In field west of the railroad and just north of the Lewis River (along Kuhns Road) we encountered 21 skittish Great Egrets.? (Not at all calm like the birds at Ridgefield NWR River ?S? Auto Tour Loop.)
We spent considerable time watching very interesting loons along the rough gravel dike access road that passes upstream under the Railroad bridge at the bank of the Lewis River.? These birds were in both Cowlitz and Clark counties.? Sent poor photos off for confirmation of species.? This area of the dike road is more safely accessed off S. Pekin Rd. and following the gravel dike road west.? If the ?directismo? right turn upslope off S. Pekin Rd. onto the dike is too much for you, follow the paved road? upstream to the WDFW fishing access and dead end.? Upon returning make the at-grade entry to the left onto the dike road.? The dike road is wide enough to pass on and even turn around on without making the somewhat rough passage beneath the railroad bridge.
John and Loraine Allinger
Hockinson (Birding in Cowlitz County)
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