Subject: Ridgefield NWR area sightings
Date: Oct 13 20:28:38 2002
From: Ruth Sullivan - GODWIT at worldnet.att.net


Hello Tweets,

Today my mother and I birded in portions of Clark and Cowlitz Cos.,mainly
covering areas from Vacouver Lake to Dike Access Rd. near Woodland. We were
unable to check the River S Unit of the Ridgefield NWR due to Bird Fest for
the 100th Anniversary of the National Wildlife Refuge System. There were
many people driving/hiking at both the Carty and River S Unit of the
Ridgefield NWR,but we managed to locate a few species during an extensive
hike at the Carty Unit with very few people. The weather was very nice and
warm throughout the day with fairly calm conditions allowing great
viewing,although a stop made along Dike Access Rd. Near Woodland on our way
home at 4pm included windy conditions. Our main highlight of the day was 2
RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS(1 adult,1 immature)at the Carty Unit of the Ridgefield
NWR observed in spotting scopes/binoculars seperately,as well as heard
calling continuously 8 times from the very thick vegetation during our
afternoon visit north of Carty Lake.

Throughout the day we encountered very few passerines,but encountered good
numbers of waterbirds including very large numbers of migrating Canada Geese
overhead at many locations including the entire Ridgefield NWR,Vancouver
Lake area,and Dike Access Rd. with grounded birds noted at a few locations.
Most of the subspecies noted included "Cackling"Canada Geese with small
numbers of other subspecies including the Taverner's subspecies. We also
noted good numbers of Sandhill Cranes at two locations during the day
including 75+ birds over the Carty Unit of the Ridgefield NWR and up to 400+
birds flying in for a possible evening roost along Dike Rd. near
Woodland(accessed from Dike Access Rd.)among up to 8,500 "Cackling"Canada
Geese that were flushed by 3 Peregrine Falcons(2 adults,1 immature)that
allowed a great show,as two of the Peregrine Falcons pursued three different
"Cackling"Canada Geese and presumably injuring all three birds from the main
flocks,but the falcons did not attempt to capture any of three
"Cackling"Canada Geese,but sat in the open plowed fields and watched the
nearby nervous geese flocks. This show was quite spectacular during our
entire 30 minute visit to the location near Dike Access Rd.,as all 3
Peregrine Falcons seemed very disoriented from the masses of geese and the
loud "honking" they made,but for some reason two Peregrine Falcons(1 adult,1
immature)pursued and downed three geese,but did not capture them.

Throughout the day we observed fairly slow birding conditions,but we were
able to locate several additional highlights away from the 2 Red-shouldered
Hawks and despite not driving the dusty,tourist-filled River S Unit loop to
be mentioned below. We also located our personal first PRAYING MANTIS at the
Carty Unit of the Ridgefield NWR,as well as a single Red-legged Frog at this
location along the northshore of Carty Lake.

A list of additional notable species for the day follow at selected
locations:

Horned Grebe
4 at Vancouver Lake

Red-necked Grebe
2 at Vancouver Lake

Eared Grebe
1 at Vancouver Lake

Western Grebe
18 at Vancouver Lake
12 off Dike Rd. near Woodland

Eurasian Wigeon
6 at the Carty Unit of Ridgefield NWR(Carty Lake)amongst 850+ Am.Wigeon
1 at Post Office Lake(north of Vancouver Lake)

Canvasback
1 at the Vancouver STP

Greater Scaup
1 at the Vancouver STP
1 at Post Office Lake

Ring-necked Duck(high count)
280+ at the Vancouver STP

SURF SCOTER
8 at Vancouver Lake

Bufflehead
3 at the Vancouver STP
1 at Post Office Lake

Greater Yellowlegs
1 at MP 2.8 along Lower River Rd. near Vancouver Lake

Long-billed Dowitcher
90 at MP 2.8 along Lower River Rd.(counted)

Wilson's Snipe
12 at the Carty Unit of the Ridgefield NWR(Carty Lake)

Red-breasted Sapsucker
1 at the Carty Unit of the Ridgefield NWR

White-breasted Nuthatch
1 at the Carty Unit of the Ridgefield NWR

Common Yellowthroat
7 at the Carty Unit of the Ridgefield NWR

Western Meadowlark
17 along Dike Access Rd. near Woodland


Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net