Subject: [Tweeters] Lewis Co Swamp Sparrow and Glaucous Gull
Date: Mar 8 20:31:05 2014
From: Stefan Schlick - greenfant at hotmail.com


What made me drive all the way up to Centralia today mid morning when I should have been taking it easy getting over a wisdom tooth extraction, I still don't really know. Also considering the inclement weather ...
I was amazed by the diversity of birds along Pleasant Valley Rd southwest of Chehalis. This a large currently waterlogged area bounded by highways 6, 603 and Pleasant Valley Rd. There were 18 species of waterfowl including many Trumpeter Swans, 10 Canvasback, 1 Barrows and 8 Common Goldeneye. I wonder what I missed. A SWAMP SPARROW, first heard, then well-seen, was near MP7 of Pleasant Valley Rd, at the NW end of a small wooden grove in the water side that you can pull out into. From there, I walked a few feet down towards the water.
A first cycle GLAUCOUS GULL (probably the previously reported bird) was in the gull flock at the ponds at the end of Goodrich Rd. I had to walk a couple of hundred yards towards the river to be able to see the birds. Missed out on the Black Phoebe, but at that point the rain was blowing sideways.
I would recommend staying away from the TransAlta site along Big Hanaford Valley Rd. While there is a lot of habitat, I was hassled by security and law enforcement until I essentially had to leave the area. Not a good experience.
The Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery near Salkum yielded a good-size flock of Barrow's Goldeneye and an American Dipper.
Stefan SchlickHillsboro, OR