Birded Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge along
the Columbia River today from 2:30-4 p.m. today, and
despite generally dark and sometimes drizzling weather
conditions, there were plenty of birds to see. Highlights
included locating the Black Phoebe hanging out in full
view from the viewing platform at the refuge office.
Natalie and I saw this bird earlier this year - it sure
seems to be the same bird since it is hanging out in the
same area - but today we had much better looks. The bird
even landed on a bush just 15 feet away at one point,
giving us a great view of the fine black whiskers on its
face. Also seen from the viewing platform:

- American Coot
- Northern Harrier
- Merlin
- Bufflehead
- numerous Canada Goose
- Savannah Sparrow
- Pileated Woodpecker

Our other highlight of the visit was seeing two
White-tailed Kite hunting over the open fields as we drove
the dike that separates the main channel of the Columbia
River from the inner refuge lands. We watched the kites
hunting for a while and then saw them again later as we
left the refuge and they flew overhead and toward fir
trees farther inland as darkness was falling. Other birds
seen along the drive:

- Western-scrub Jay
- numerous Steller's Jay
- numerous Mallard
- Canvasback
- 2 Ring-necked Duck
- 3 American Kestrel
- Western Gull
- Golden-crowned Kinglet
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Fox Sparrow
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
- Spotted Towhee
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Northern Shrike (along the slew on the outer side of the
refuge....great looks!)
- Downy Woodpecker

Tomorrow we are off to the Vancouver and Washougal areas.
Hoping for more good birding!