Finally today was a dry morning when I had time free and I got out and about the county. First stop American Lake where the usual Canvasbacks were closer than usual.

A nice variety of waterfowl, the obligatory Bald Eagle, and a few brave passerines moving about in the 30 degree morning. I saw three Bonaparte’s gulls flying out over the water so I skipped Harry-Todd and headed for Mount’s Road where three Northern Harriers were hunting the wetlands, but little else was happening. Easterday Road was also very slow, as temperatures remained about 32 and nothing was moving.
From here I headed to Gog-li-hi-ti and the temperature finally warmed up, but still not much moving. I did find Thayer’s and Herring Gulls among the flocks on the buildings and walked the area looking for something good like a meadowlark, shrike, short-eared owl, pipit, or longspur, but none showed. I whistled Sora at the large cat-tail marsh and at least two, maybe three Virginia Rails replied for a couple of minutes very nicely. Marsh Wren also reluctantly called.
Next was a stop at the 11th Street Bridge to look for the Slaty-backed Gull, which I manage to see at a distance on a building in a flock. Not much else there and last I drove and walked most of Ruston Way looking for loons, grebes, and Black Turnstone, but except for close in Barrow’s Goldeneyes little was happening.

Home by 1:45 PM and since I was called to help at Hartland SDC this afternoon I’ll clean up and head in there soon. This brings my Pierce year list to 85.