Hi Tweeters,

I returned from a 10 day family oriented out of state trip last night and
waited for the rain to stop around noon today (5/31/12) before heading to
the Woodland Bottoms. At the intersection of Caples & Dike Roads I was able
to scope 9 WHIMBREL forageing in the dead grass area where they were well
camouflaged but taller than the grass. Thanks to Tom for finding this
county first and to all the posts of updates for the last week. Also
present here was at least one BANK SWALLOW.

Later I headed up the Lewis River Road (SR 503) and turned right to stay on
503 toward Amboy about 6 miles west of Cougar. In 0.1 miles I stopped at a
pullout on the left. A singing male INDIGO X LAZULI BUNTING was the first
to catch my attention here. The head and back were blue with the wings
being black with noticeable wing bars, the forward one being more
prominent. The underparts were gray with light blue splotches with no hint
of the orange tone of the Lazuli anywhere. This is the same location that
hosted this hybrid in June 2010 and could be the same individual.

Going out into the ankle high grass with the brushy replanted area on my
right for about 100 yards I heard briefly and had a couple of nice looks at
a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. Again this is the site from which this species was
reported, but this time in 2011. This spot is very birdy and has lots of
the more common species in this regenerating clearcut.

Continuing up Lewis River Road I turned up FR 8100 a mile west of Cougar
and continued to an intersection with gated timber company roads at MP 6.9.
Here I found a singing male HERMIT X TOWNSENDS WARBLER with a head like a
Townsend's but the flanks were very lightly streaked and there was no
yelllow below the black bib. This may also be a repeater as I saw a similar
individual here last summer. Walking down the hill past the gate I did come
across a "pure" HERMIT WARBLER carrying food. There were many calling
HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS and a single vocal OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATHER on this walk
as well.

Farther up FR 8100 at the intersection with FR 8123 were a number of
singing HERMIT THRUSHES a new location for me of this species. Time of day
and the snow on the road going uphill got me to call it a day here and head
home.

Russ Koppendrayer
Longview, WA
russkopeATgmailDOTcom
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