...........Under a blazing sun in an absolutely cloudless sky, I went
walking in Ridgefield Nat'l Wildlife Refuge, just north of Vancouver,
Wash. I visited the River-S Unit. Some observations of note:
...........The second lake(if you want to call it a "lake", since the
bodies of water are becoming more mudflats than anything else!!!)on your
right that you meet--called Quigley Lake, was filled with shorebirds. I
would have to estimate that there were at least 200 Long-billed
Dowitchers there, along with far lesser amounts of Greater Yellowlegs.
Ducks, all in molt, were in the far north end. Some of the Dowitchers
were beginning to change into their winter garb. In the middle of all
these shorebirds stood 1 lone Canada Goose. A number of Killdeer were
along the drainage ditch(along with 2 species of frogs!!), and on the
gravel road.
...........At the north end of Rest Lake, by the photo observation
blind, were more shorebirds: About 35 more Long-billed Dowitchers, and a
few Greater Yellowlegs. 1 Common Snipe was seen away from the rest of
the shorebirds. A few Western Sandpipers were also present, though
Sandpipers, in general, were strangely absent. Scattered about were
Ring-billed Gulls.
...........Continuing to walk along the service road around the east
side of the lake, I was surprised to spot, at the west end of this
rapidly disappearing "lake", a platoon of 14 Great Egrets, standing
together elegantly among the many Great Blue Herons that were also
there. As I walked closer to the area where the Egrets were standing,
they eventually all scattered, heading northwest. No shorebirds present
on the mudflats at the west end. More Killdeer were observed.
...........Though I saw a few Swallows, they were, in general absent,
leading me to wonder of they have started to migrate south. Also, the
normally numerous Red-winged Blackbirds were also absent. Several Rock
Doves were seen, along with some of the more common Sparrows.
...........Saw 1 Harrier Hawk, 1 Red-tail Hawk, and....2 Turkey
Vultures. Very few people visting, only the better to enjoy my solitude
on a very lazy day in summer. Many areas are being bulldozed, for what
purpose I don't know . Especially in the west end, it looks like they
are improving drainage canals for improved wetlands. We shall see!!!!!!
Everyone take care now.........

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

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