.................This weekend:
.................Wanted to hike the Center Road through the Whitetail
Deer Refuge near Cathlamet, Wash. But it was still closed(till May 1st,
I believe) The trail is good for observing songbirds in various
habitats. So....just drove around the refuge Fr. observing Wood Ducks,
Hooded Mergansers, D.C. Cormorants Cinnamon Teals, an Osprey, several
Harrier Hawks, and plenty of Turkey Vultures.....along with Sparrows and
other more common songbirds. Refuge hasn't put up their gourds yet for
the Purple Martins.
................Cliff Swallows at the rocky bluffs along Hwy. 4 by the
Columbia River, with Tree Swallows and Barn Swallows elsewheres.
................Willapa Bay on Long Beach Peninsula, Wash. was loaded
with shorebirds as the tide came in and out: West. Sandpipers, Dunlin,
Black-bellied Plovers, lots of Greater Yellowlegs, and...even more
Short-billed Dowitchers, and 1 Semipalmated Plover(...all of these
shorebirds-(-Semipalmated excepted) were 50% or more in breeding
plumage). 4 Common Mergansers further out, and several hawks.(both
Red-tailed and Harriers).
................Sat.: ocean beach---north end of peninsula: Not hundreds,
seemed like 1000's of shorebirds constantly rising and moving in
restless" black clouds"!!!
Zillions of Short-billed Dowitchers along with loads of Sanderlings(also
beginning to change to breeding plumage), Dunlin, West.
Sands.,Black-bellied Plovers(gorgeous in black and white)....and 2
Caspian Terns. 6 or 7 flocks of Canada Geese seen and heard going
northwards along the beach during the aft.
...............Sun: Ft. Canby--NJCR: (south of Illwaco, Wash.)---in the
bay by the boat landing and Coast Guard Station: 2 Common Loons, Pelagic
Cormorants,Scaup, Common Mergansers, and a immature Bald Eagle flying
overhead. And...a Lincolns Sparrow in the brambles by the water.
..............At the cliffs below Luis and Clark Interpretive Center,
and the adjacent Coast Guard Lighthouse were lots and lots of Pelagic
Cormorants, many already nesting.
..............At the ocean beach were West. Sandpipers and 9
Semi-palmated Plovers. More groups of Canada Geese heading north.
..............Periods of beautiful sunshine, along with periods of
showers, and several small hail showers...along with a cold west
wind---quite a mixed bag!!! But seeing such vast quantities of
shorebirds(often noisy!!) in one location, and....even a hugh rainbow
over Willapa Bay Sat. aft. was an awesome sight that made the weather
of little consequence. I may not see every bird present, but what I do
see is always thrilling. (-:

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