Spent a fascinating couple of hours on Monday at the Columbian White-tail
Deer Refuge near Cathlamet. It was tough concentrating on the birds for
looking at the assembled mammals. 13 magnificent bull elk, all with truly
spectacular antlers, were grazing among the deer. Nutria were browsing
the meadows. Anyone who has never seen a mature bull elk in the wild
might consider the drive to this great spot. The way the refuge is laid
out, the elk are always visible (at least any time I have visited). They
seem to congregate here every winter.

Good variety of birds. Most notable were four Trumpeter Swans and 20+
pair of Eurasian Wigeon with one Pintail pair with them. The habitat
variety in the refuge is great: the open Columbia river, the tidewater
section of the Elochoman River, mixed forest, swamp, brush, creeks, and
open meadow.

Grant Hendrickson
grant at brigadoon.com
Redmond, WA