.................Drove west from Longview, Wash. along Highway 4 through
snow showers, and a lightly snow-covered ground through Cathamet and
Julia Butler Hansen NWR. No Black Phoebe seen, but there were scads of
GREATER SCAUP, along with lesser numbers of LESSER SCAUP,
and...........some COMMON GOLDENEYES.
................Between rain and snow showers, and heavy small hail
showers, the sun shined at Tolkland Marina. The tide was low. But during
the 2 hours I stayed, only *one* lone MARBLED GODWIT was seen in the
marina area. No sign anywhere in the area or along Hwy 105 of the other
40 or so MARBLED GODWITS or the lone BAR-TAILED GODWIT . Did they leave
or decide on some new place to feed??? It was* very* windy in the area
the night before, so this may have been a factor in their
"disappearance". Even the SWANS were not in the previously mentioned places.
...............However there were a number of other shorebirds in this
location: 15 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS; 6 WILLETS; 2 WHIMBRELS; 3 GREATER
YELLOWLEGS( in an adjacent area) along with a few RED-NECKED GREBES,
AND 2 WESTERN GREBES.
................On the way back around 4:30 pm stopped off again at rhe
refuge office area of Julia Butler Hansen NWR. This time the Black
Phoebe obliged me with a lengthy show of tail-wagging and insectivorous
feeding sprints over the slough. So..........this little bird is still
around----which made me feel a little better about my otherwise less
than productive trip. (-:
................However the scenery is beautiful along Highways 105,
101, and 4 in this area of Wash., so the drive alone was most
satisfying. The snow-covered Willapa Hills and the hills along the
Columbia River was pretty.

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