Hello Tweets,

Today my mother and I birded Clark Co., along with Marv Breece, which we met
at Orchards Park in Orchards, north of Vancouver, where the previously
reported OVENBIRD could not be relocated upon fairly extensive searching
from 7:30am-9:30am, with additional searching made by Marv, as he arrived
before us. It is very probable that the presence of Spotted Towhees, and
other breeding songbirds could have chased this bird out of this location,
as noted by Jim Johnson, who reported the bird, otherwise very appropriate
habitat persist at this location, with very dense undergrowth, and ample
amounts of mature and secondary growth, as well. I do believe the Ovenbird
has moved on, otherwise it should have been singing on territory given the
time of year, as noted with the Ovenbird near Packwood in June-July 2000,
despite Orchards Park being a much smaller area.

At 10am we arrived at the River S Unit of Ridgefield NWR, where we were
later joined by Marv, who remained with us throughout our stay here until
1:30pm. The weather throughout the day consisted of low morning cloudiness
turning to mostly sunny skies and warming temperatures by 1pm, with moderate
wind at times. Our main and best highlight was a COMFIRMED breeding record
of BLACK-NECKED STILT, as one pair was noted with 3 young, with 6 other
additional adult bird in the same vicinity, as noted along the driving
"loop". This record could very well be the first comfirmed breeding record
of this species in western WA, which was recently suspected of breeding due
to the amount of adults, and their length of stay at this location. I am
aware of only one probable breeding record for western WA from northern
Thurston Co., presumeably Nisqually NWR, as noted in the Breeding Birds of
Washington State Breeding Bird Atlas. It is very possible that other pairs
of Black-necked Stilts at the River S Unit of Ridgefield NWR may also
successfully breed this year, with added observations into the summer
months. Another probable first breeding record for western WA could be the
nearby BLACK TERNS at this location, with there continued stay of a total of
8 adults noted during our visit,(with 7 birds over Rest Lake at one time,
with an additional isolated bird foraging by itself near the refuge
entrance) but NO evidence of breeding, as of yet.

Other notable species during our visit included:

5 Am.Bitterns
6 GREAT EGRETS
1 TUNDRA SWAN(injured)
17 GREEN-WINGED TEAL
8 female NORTHERN PINTAILS
82 Cinnamon Teal(with additional young noted)
46 Blue-winged Teal
1 pair of AM.WIGEON(possible breeder)
1 pair of Ring-necked Ducks
2 male LESSER SCAUPS
23 RUDDY DUCKS(presumed breeding on Rest Lake)
1 Am.Kestrel
1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS
2 Spotted Sandpipers
1 pair of WILSON'S PHALAROPES(presumed breeding)
2 Great Horned Owls(1 adult,1 young)
12 Purple Martins
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Cassin's Vireo
1 male Lazuli Bunting
14 Yellow-headed Blackbirds(presumed breeding)


Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net