.................The sun was out, so I went walking and driving down by
Vanc. Lake and surrounds. Plenty of Common Mergansers and DC Cormorants
on the lake, and.....Robins, Black-capped Chickadees, Ore. Juncos, and
Golden-crowned Sparrows, along with a Steller's Jay and several Scrub
Jays and.....one Northern Flicker on the park grounds. There were 5
Killdeer on the edge of the developing wetlands on the north end of the
new picnic area..........along with a large mature Bald Eagle dining on
a meal in a tree. Hunting still going on so I didn't go into the State
of Wash. wildlife areas north of the park. However, 2 birders spotted a
Northern Shrike in that area by the road.
................3 Great Egrets were seen individually in scattered
locations. Herons common. A flock of 10 Sandhill Cranes were seen and
heard flying over the area of Lower River Rd. but were not to be seen
anywhere in this location when I drove by.(Apparently a non-migrating
batch that decided to winter in this area). The lakes at RNWR(the former
Ridgeport Dairy) at the north end of the road were teeming with
Widgeons, Mallards, Pintails, Shovelers, Buffleheads, a few Green-winged
Teals, 2 Cinnamon Teals, plenty of Common Mergansers, Coots, a
Pied-billed Grebe,Tundra Swans, and some Trumpeter Swans. And.........of
course, *zillions* of Canada Geese!!!!!!---A very noisy bunch!!!
Sparrows were flitting around in the bramble bushes by the
road---notably Song Sparrows and a Lincoln's Sparrow. Our Pacific Loon
was seen again paddling northwards along the east shore of Columbia
River. A female No. Harrier Hawk made several low, gliding passes over
the area.
...................(One curious question---*where* are the multitudes of
Lesser Scaup that I usually see in this area????? Been a strange absence
of them this year!!!)
...................With the setting sun over the Columbia River, and
snow-covered Mt Jefferson, Mt. Helens, Mt. Adams, MT. Hood along with
the tops of the snow-covered Cascades and the foothills seen over the
bottom lands to the east. All this to the noisy awesome symphony of
Swans, Geese and ass't ducks calling made for a very reluctant
departure.
.................Cheers!!!

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