>From 4pm to 5:45pm I birded Ridgefield NWR driving the loop. A week ago
there were 1000's of Pintail. Today only saw one. Am surprised to see both
swan species still hanging around(3-Trumpeters; 8-Tundra). Greater
Yellowlegs are beginning to show with 7 different ones scattered around the
refuge. 1 Common Snipe was winnowing and a minute later a Great Horned Owl
called. Both of these were west of the photo blind.

Other species beginning to show up are Northern Rough-winged Swallow and
Savannah Sparrows. Also saw 'peeps' either Western or Least
Sandpipers--just too far away in bad light to ID. Again saw 10 Long-billed
Dowitchers near the southern most part of the loop drive looking south.

At the top of the ravine was a pair of Brown Creepers acting like they must
have a nesting territory close by. Winter Wrens were singing in the sword
ferns that cover the hill side.

At dusk I was checking out the Dike Rd. in Cowlitz Co. I saw 27 Sandhill
Cranes fly from the fields heading south into Clark Co.

Total=59 species

Ken Knittle, Vancouver, WA
washingtonbirder at hotmail.com

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