Today Ken and I met at 6:30 at the I5-Hwy 512 Park and Ride and headed south to bird Lewis County. Our first stop was at Goodrich Road where we birded the road in which ends at a fairly large shallow pond. There was a house with lots of feeders (6 suet feeders) on the left and we saw numerous sparrows and a Downy Woodpecker on the suet. At the end of the road we had good numbers of ducks, large flocks of Cackling Geese and some Canada Geese flew overhead, and before we left Ken spotted 3 California Quail on some farm equipment. We left there with 41 species (I missed a calling Ring-necked pheasant)
From there we headed south to follow Hwy 12 east from I-5. Our first stop was at the “Morton Southeastern Fields.” We made a quick pass through finding little, circled around on a side road to Hwy-12 and decided to return for a longer visit. We are really glad we did as shortly after arriving Ken spotted a shrike on a fence post about 100 yards from the road. We both arrived at the conclusion that it was not the expected NOSH but rather a LOSH. It had a darker nape and crown, a broad black eye-patch making the white throat stand out, and was a compact looking shrike. This was a FOY for both of us. Lots of Tree and VG swallows swooped around, and we left there to continue east.
Next stop was at the east end of Riffe Lake. This is a very shallow wet area with extensive sand, mud and wet fields, adjacent to forest on the shoreline. We walked about 1 mile into the lakeshore, and on the way in a Barred Owl started calling. We found Western Grebes, California Gulls, what we think was a Golden Eagle soaring very far away over the foothills, but it was so distant we couldn’t exclude a young Bald eagle, so left it unidentified. This was a great example of the good things that are found when we take time to let the birds come to us. On the way in a Hutton’s vireo called, a Red-breasted sapsucker was drumming, Red-breasted nuthatches and a Pacific Wren were singing, and on the way out a Hairy Woodpecker called loudly and flew into a tree right overhead. On the way down the road coming in a Varied Thrush male gave us a good show. A pair of Turkey Vultures soared overhead as we walked back to the car.
Farther east on the left we noted a very wet field and turned onto Will’s road. This was another nice stop, where we heard two Virginia Rails calling, and listened to Purple Finches singing, lots of swallows all around, and Marsh Wrens singing.
Our last two stops were at Peter’s Road, first at the wetlands just off Hwy 12 to the right, and then to the Peter’s Road southern fields. We looked over large numbers of waterfowl, adding Common and Barrow’s Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, and Lesser Scaup along with a lone Trumpeter Swan. As we approached the southern fields a pair of Say’s Phoebes fluttered right in front of the car and posed for photos. These were FOY for Ken, and life Lewis County birds for both of us.

We had intended to drive to Packwood and cross over to Ashford but the road was closed, so we came back Hwy – 7 from Morton to Elbe. At Elbe we had a dipper under the bridge, flying to both sides of the river. We think this was both in Lewis and Pierce County, but need to research just where the county line falls.
Overall another great day and my 14th county in WA birded so far this year.