Hello Tweeters...........
Went hiking around the Ridgefield NWR--the north Carty unit last
Sunday. The birds were singing and the bees were buzzin'( in fact had
one large bee really in 'in love with me ' for awhile...becoming quite
the pest!) Again, No. Schovelers were everwhere!!!!! Aside from some
other common dipping ducks, I observed:

Scrub Jays(2)
Lincoln Sparrows(2)
Bewick's Wren
Song Sparrow(1)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet(1)
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Gadwall(1)
Red-winged Blackbirds(with some especially-vibrant red-bedecked males)

.....and a congregation of 18 Double-created Cormorants 'having a
service together' on the side of the lake. And, of course, the usual
Blue Herons.
.....The Red-breasted Sapsucker is 'lifer' for me. It wasn't present the
first time I went by the oak tree(it was reported earlier as having been
seen). I walked almost to the dike and came back when he was spotted by
me in the same place....for a short time before he flew away again. But,
with his back to me, I could only see his black and white wings and red
head. Decided to come back again to the same spot the next day after
work. Voila!!!!!! He was there again for a few minutes. This time he
graced me by a showing of his red and yellow breast. What a beautiful
bird!!!!
.....A Pileated Woodpecker was reported seen, but not by my own eyes.

.....The yellow-flowered Skunk-cabbage has faded, but mydriads of yellow
Stream Violets, white Avalanche Lilies, Wild Blue Flax, Redwood Sorrel,
Common Butterworts, and other early wildflowers graced the wet forest
floor. Yes, tis a wonderful time to be alive.......when Spring is
'bustin out all over'!!!!!!

Gerald Hamilton
Brush Prairie, Wash.
gerald at e-z.net
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..... .The Red