Subject: [Tweeters] WOS Field Trip--Cowlitz County
Date: May 5 21:50:30 2012
From: Russ Koppendrayer - russkope at gmail.com


Hi Tweeters,

Twelve of us met early this morning (5/5/12) to spend the day birding
Cowlitz County under cloudy skies with intermittent showers. While we never
got really wet the rain was enough to keep our migrant passerine numbers
down. We enjoyed plenty of special moments in spite of this.

Our first stop was the Port of Kalama north property were we were treated
to scope studies of the HORNED LARKS there. Much discussion led to the
conclusion that none of us was certain if these are the streaked Horned
Larks or not. From an overlook above Meeker's Pond we got a peek at the
GREAT EGRETS that were above the foliage in the heronry as well as a few in
the pond below us.

Moving on to the Woodland Bottoms we were scoping Burke's Island from Dike
Road where we saw BLACK-BELLID PLOVER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS when a pair of
REDHEADS flew into the area right in front of us. A nice treat. Next at
Martin's Bar we were unable to lure either of 2 singing HOUSE WRENS into
view, but there was a WARBLING VIREO that was FOY for many of the group. At
the muddy field at the intersection of Dike and Caples Roads we were able
to find a WESTERN SANDPIPER among the much more numerous LEAST SANDPIPERS.
A bit farther south on Dike Road we had great view of a recently fledged
GREAT HORNED OWL. Along Dike Road south of Whalen Road we found a single
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER with 3 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS. Side by side study
was very informative. Just north of the heavy equipment traing center we
had looks at 3 CALIFORNIA QUAIL. On the way out a CHIPPING SPARROW was
spotted and evetually we all got turned around and the bird was refound.

Heading north to the west Longview area we were greeted by an adult
male ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD glowing on a perch. Out toward the mitigation ponds
we had a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER fly in and most of the goup had up close
and personal looks at a VIRGINIA RAIL before an AMERICAN PIPIT played hide
and seek in the grass before everyone had a good look.

After lunch at the Willow Grove Park we birded Barlow Point Road where we
were treated to views of 2 WESTERN KINGBIRDS as well as an adult GREAT
HORNED OWL out in the open.

We now headed up toward Coldwater Lake and made a stop at Sightly Road and
found 3 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS in the vicinity of the nest boxes. At the
Coldwater picnic area a SPOTTED SANDPIPER flew from the lake into the creek
and out of sight. Thinking we heard a SOOTY GROUSE we moved to the boat
launch area and got much closer and confirmed th booming for all, howeveer
it was up a steep hill in the national monument with no off trail access so
no visual was enjoyed.

I thoroughly enjoyed my day with a very pleasant group that did a lot of
great spotting to find 91 species by my count. It seemed everyone enjoyed
the day in spite of the minor rain nuisance.

Russ Koppendrayer
Longview,WA
russkopeATgmailDOTcom
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