Subject: [Tweeters] Lewis County Big Day
Date: Tue May 21 11:20:59 PDT 2019
From: Dalton Spencer - offthehookflyshop at yahoo.com

Hi all,
Pardon me for the late report but I figured it was better late than never.
On Saturday May 18th, Rachel Hudson and I did a Lewis Couny Big Day. It was quite exceptional. We ended the day with 109 species including all 7 Swallows and 4 owls. 
We started our day off with a NORTHERN PYGMY- OWL and a BARRED OWL calling near the Cowlits Trout Hatchery and then up the road to the Salmon Hatchery there was a pair of GREAT HORNED OWLS. 
Morton was productive with our only PURPLE FINCH and first of several LAZULI BUNTINGS. 
The east end of Riffe Lake was not what I hoped for. Although we did get a late GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW and a pair of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS.
The Champion Haul road allowed SOOTY GROUSE to be heard and a HOUSE WREN to be seen. 
Peters Road was alive with ducklings and goslings. There were easily 100 baby birds floating and feeding behind there mama's. BANK SWALLOWS were a nice find here but overall the marsh lacked its usual vigor.
The clear cuts east of Packwood gave us our only NASHVILLE WARBLERS of the day. 
Up towards White Pass is the little Knupenburg Lake( prounounced Qnoop-en-burg) where a BARROW'S GOLDENEYE pair has nested for years. VARIED THRUSH was also seen sifting through the leaf litter on the ground. 
The pass itself was covered in PINE SISKINS. Joining then included 5 CASSIN'S FINCHES and many YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. CANADA JAYS and CHIPPING SPARROWS also showed thems. 
Back in the Centralia and Chehalis area a BULLOCK'S ORIOLE at Hillburger pond was a nice find.

The continuing population of LESSER GOLDFINCHES at Borst Park allowed one of their members to be seen. The small breeding group was found last year and has continued through into this year in the hopes that they will breed again. 
We decided to head out to the Centralia coal mine in the hopes of finding some ducks that we were still lacking instead we ended up finding a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT along Big Hanaford Road. The bird was quite vocal and was mimicking a SWAINSON'S THRUSH which only added to the confusion. An AMERICAN BITTERN was also heard here in the marshy flats of Hanaford Creek. 
Our final stop was at the Shorey Road access to the Willapa Hills trail system. We were able to add a winnowing WILSON'S SNIPE, a whinnying SORA, and a winging BARN OWL. The owl was our last bird of the day. 
Overall it was a wonderful day that had us up early and out late but the birds were definitely worth it. If anybody is interested in birding Lewis County or has questions on where to bird in the county please feel free to ask and I will be more than willing to give guidance and advice.
Dalton Spencer Centralia,  Washington 
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