Subject: Ringold, on Hanford Reach
Date: Aug 1 19:46:57 2000
From: TrueBrew01 at aol.com - TrueBrew01 at aol.com


Hello Tweeters:

I have no idea if the Tweeters list is interested in the Ringold (Hanford
Reach, DeLorme page 53, D6, bottom of the page) area for birding, but I was
so impressed by the number and variety of birds on two recent fishing trips
there that I thought I would report what I saw in the way of birds. This is
a Washington State Public land and a WSDFW sticker is required for parking
there. (By the way, the fishing season at this location closed yesterday,
July 31st.)

I have been on the Tweeters list for 3 or 4 years and am not an avid birder,
though through the posts to the lists I have learned to identify a much wider
range of birds than I had in the past, but in terms of where I'm at on that
level I'm still in birding kindergarten. First the list of birds that I saw
in about 4 days of camping there, then I'll put some verbiage in. One of my
concerns is whether or not this area will be protected from hunting now that
Billie has declared it a National Recreation Area or whatever designation he
gave to it.


GEESE, DUCKS, GULLS
AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS (6 in a flock on the river, 1 lone pelican circling
near shore)
COMORANTS - only saw them in the distance, but am quite sure they were
Double-Crested
SAND PIPERS
SWALLOWS
MORNING DOVES - lots of them
EASTERN KINGBIRD - many
CALIFORNIA QUAIL - early morning and late evening appearances
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE - glimpsed it in flight for about 30 yards, the black and
orange were unmistakable
FLYCATCHER? - olive back, light breast, seemed to almost hover just over the
water taking insects
BLACKBIRDS - lots of them at water's edge but they were in tall grass and
moved so much I couldn't make a positive ID, though I think they were
BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS, also saw at least one RED WINGED BLACKBIRD
AMERICAN ROBIN - lots of these
KILLDEER - saw this from about 10 feet, never realized how beautifully marked
they are
AMERICAN DIPPER? - have seen these several times before in other locals and
am almost certain of the ID, but it moved away from the water's edge before I
had a chance to see it 'dip'
GREAT BLUE HERON
SAVANNAH SPARROW
MAGPIE - over the sage brush that is at the edge of the public land

A strange bird that I never could identify which was perched on a branch for
several minutes: about the size of a Robin but with a short tail, relatively
long pointed bill, light yellow underneath and light olive back and wings,
with dark almost black vertical stripes on the side of it's body. There were
four stripes on each side.

There were several other birds that I couldn't identify as well.

The public fishing area north of the large Ringold drainage canal is probably
a good half mile long and perhaps a couple of city blocks wide and has very
dense vegetation. I don't know how far this strip extends south of the
drainage canal and didn't spend much time there. The south portion isn't
marked as "Public Fishing" but many people fish there and many launch their
boats there too. The south portion is marked with a steel sign which says:
"Eagle nesting area," and is marked as "protected". I don't know what the
"protected" means because as far as I know the area is open to hunting. (On
the north portion there is a sign on a fence that says "No hunting beyond
this line.")

This base vegetation in this strip is limb to limb Russian olive trees
surrounded by very dense underbrush that I can't identify. The underbrush is
tall and is so thick that you can't walk through it, though there are a few
dirt roads through it to the river that are used by fisher folks.

The pelicans landed on the northern tip of the island which lies between the
drainage canal and the Hanford reservation. It has been 7 or 8 years since I
had visited this location, but this is the same location that I have seen the
pelicans many times in the past. As they were flying in formation prior to
landing, there were 3 cormorants flying with them, and stayed with the
pelicans all the time they were in flight. The cormorants didn't fall into
formation, but would flit from one part of the formation to another until the
pelicans landed. The cormorants also stayed with the pelican group on the
ground.

I am quite sure that this Washington State public land is open to hunters
during hunting season and this site would be particularly attractive to dove
hunters (which I think is the first of the bird seasons), and quail and water
fowl hunters too. There are cotton tail rabbits here too. In light of the
designation of this area as a recreation area, or whatever, I would sure like
to see it closed to hunting.

This spot is not on the beaten path and is also not well marked. If
travelling there from the west side of the state the quickest way to get
there is to travel to Othello, then go south on Highway 24 which very quickly
will curve around and head due west. Just after the curve will be a sign
pointing left to "Basin City" and you take that left up over "Radar Hill" for
a few miles until you get to a stop sign and must turn either left (a mile to
Basin City) or right to Rhingold. Turn right for about 7 or 8 miles until
the road crosses the drainage canal and immediately after crossing the canal
there will be a road to the right and a sign pointing to "Ringold". This
road will end within about a mile. Turn right and after crossing the canal
again will be a sign "Public Fishing" to the left and that gravel washboard
road gets you to the river and the public land.

Jim Brewster
Kent Washington
truebrew01 at aol.com