Subject: [Tweeters] Western bluebird (#164) and Townsend's solitaire (#166),
Date: Apr 16 18:13:40 2015
From: Bob - rflores_2 at msn.com


I began my morning meaning before light trying to locate a barred owl or western screech owl spending time north of Ridgefield. Unfortunately I did not have one owl respond.

I decided to give this trail area another try, at the urging of Luke Hanes, this morning and walked about four miles of it. I found a male Western bluebird just past milemarker 1.5. It was downhill in an old clear cut and was moving through the area. I heard it before seeing it. Soon after on the trail I found a Townsend's solitaire about 60 yards off the trail i was able to take some bad pictures. I walked a 8 mile loop and decided to take road L1210 that leads to the parkinglot. While walking I saw a bird perched in a shrub and there was another male Western bluebird. I was able to get some, what else, bad photos. The GOOD news for those of you who want a Western bluebird on your County list the bird was about 150 yards from the yellow gate at the end of the parkinglot! YES I walked eight miles and returned to find my target bird within a few hundred yards of my vehicle. THANKS LUKE.

Another bird worth mentioning was a singing hermit warbler (#165) because I am sure it is a bit early. If anyone has better info on early hermit warblers i am interested to hear from you.

Also I had 8 black-throated gray, 1 Townsend's and 6 orange-crowned warblers. Also about 200 yards from the start of the trail I could hear a northern pygmy owl calling to the east it did so until I was out of range. I had two gray jays pay me a visit and two band-tailed pigeons fly over. Had a few red crossbills and quite a few pacific wrens.

Bob Flores
Ridgefield, WA