Hello Tweets,

Today Ken Knittle and I joined Phil Kelley on Wlson Cady's WOS field trip to
Ridgefield NWR, with additional birding made at Steigerwald NWR and the
Washougal STP in Clark Co. We encountered a total of 92 species, and had an
enjoyable time birding the first part of the day away from the evident dense
fog at most locations, by birding at Steigerwald NWR and the Washougal STP,
with gained access by Wilson who led us all through the entire complex for 3
hours, before heading west to Vancouver Lake, Lower River Rd., then the last
part of the day spent birding the driving loop along the River S Unit of
Ridgefield NWR. Our best highlight for the time of year and for the location
were 8 AM.WHITE PELICANS observed along Lower River Rd., just west of
Vancouver Lake flying north towards Sauvie Island to the northwest, so these
birds may remain for some time, if they do linger. In general good numbers
of raptors were seen at most locations, including Red-tailed Hawk, Northern
Harrier, and Am.Kestrel in that abundance order. Waterfowl numbers seemed
somewhat low,except for fairly sizable flocks of at least 5 subspecies of
Canada Goose, including several "Dusky"Canada Geese noted along Lower River
Rd. A list of our highlights at selected locations and times follows:

Washougal STP/Steigerwald NWR 8:45am-11:45am

8 Great Egrets
100+ Tundra Swans(observed flying in from the east, while we all enjoyed
Smoked Salmon sandwiches from Wilson on Steigerwald NWR,presumably birds
from the wintering Franz Lake population in nearby Skamania Co. These bird
circled overhead several time before seperate parts of the flock headed
west, while other headed back east)
9 Greater-White-fronted Geese
1 Snow Goose
1 male Wood Duck
1 pair of Eurasian Wigeon
1 Lesser Scaup
1 Ruddy Duck
1 adult Peregrine Falcon
4 Greater Yellowlegs
4 Least Sandpipers
2 Dunlin
4 Long-billed Dowitchers
2 Common Snipe
1 Great Horned Owl
2 Hairy Woodpeckers
1 Pileated Woodpecker
40+ Am.Pipits
1 adult Northern Shrike
5 Lincoln's Sparrows
2 Western Meadowlarks

Vancouver STP 12:30pm

270+ Ring-necked Ducks
2 Greater Scaup
16 Lesser Scaup
21 Ruddy Ducks
1 adult Cooper's Hawk

Vancouver Lake/Lower River Rd. 12:40pm-2:30pm

1 Common Loon
13 Western Grebes
8 AM.WHITE PELICANS
3 Great Egrets
27 Tundra Swans
1 Merlin
1 adult Peregrine Falcon
1 Ring-necked Pheasant
6 Sandhill Cranes
1 Bonaparte's Gull
17 Western Meadowlarks

River S Unit of Ridgefield NWR 3:10pm-4:30pm

16 Great Egrets
58+ Tundra Swans
10 CINNAMON TEAL(perhaps if conditions remain mild, relatively good numbers
may remain through the winter at this location, being a normally abundant
breeder, but very scarce late fall-early spring visitor)
3 Canvasbacks
1 immature light-morph Rough-legged Hawk
1 Ring-necked Pheasant
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
6+ Savannah Sparrows
4 Lincoln's Sparrows
6 Purple Finches

Good birding,

Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net