My husband and I went to Ridgefield NWR in Clark County this Sunday morning
(3rd) to see if we could find the Black Terns reported there. On the Kiwi
Trail (we walked clockwise from the entrance split) and we saw a pair of
young GREAT HORNED OWLS just before you leave the forested area and head to
the wetlands. Out on the trail we saw and heard the SNIPE and AMERICAN
BITTERN crossed in front of us. Coots and ducks were building nests. We saw
several WILSON'S PHALAROPES that are still hanging around. Are they ging to
nest? Just as we got to the sharp hairpin in the trail (there are some trees
and brush on the left) we heard a call we did not recognize and
investigated. It was parent VIRGINIA RAILS. This was not their usual call at
all. I watched as one walked under a short snag and sat (yes sat) in the
water right next to the snag in the dark. When it got up there were two
balls of black fluff with yellow bands on the beaks.... 2 BABY RAILS that
followed the parent. Other birds of interest seen were lots of COMMON
YELLOWTHROATS, several GREAT EGRETS, "the" TUNDRA SWAN, YELLOW-HEADED
BLACKBIRDS, BLACK-NECKED STILTS and yes we did see one (and only one) BLACK
TERN just before it landed and the grass blocked it from view. There could
have been more on the ground.

Sherry Hagen
Vancouver, WA
littlebirder at yahoo.com