Dear Tweeters

Was out surfing at Westport Sunday & on the way back
checked out the newly-marked John River Wildlife viewing
area. It's about 7 miles east of Westport, has a parking
lot on the west bank of the John River -- the parking lot
can be glimpsed from the highway as you drive west over the
John River bridge heading toward Westport. Take the next
left and proceed 1/4 mile, bearing left toward to the river
bank. Park in the gravel lot, and check the map of the refuge
trails posted there before starting to hike.

The viewing area offers several miles of trails, kinda
similar to Nisqually Delta, but wilder.

Had a good long look at a bird which I believe was a
black-crowned night heron. It resembled a smaller,
stubbier great blue heron in body form, with black crown
plainly in evidence above pinkish-white neck and belly,
with wings dark-to-black. The spear-like beak was long and
heron-ish, but yellow instead of the black color
illustrated in National Geo.

It was facing me, sitting up like a penguin, so I never saw
its back. Legs were not in evidence either. Just sitting
there enjoying the sun. There were several great blue
herons in evidence, so comparison was easy.

Lots of other nice birds in evidence: merlin, harrier,
kingfisher, etc. A few hunters too, though.

Worth checking out! JAS