Sunday, October 20, 2002
Carol Watrous and I birded the Vancouver Lake Lowlands and the
Ridgefield Refuge's River "S" Unit and found two more RED-SHOULDERED
HAWKS. The first one was perched in a cottonwood snag south of the sign
saying "Existing Wetland" that is across from the first pond you come to
on Fourth Plain Blvd as you head towards Vancouver Lake. At the end of
Lower River Road we found three EARED GREBES and a STILT SANDPIPER in
Post Office Lake.
The second RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was one heard calling from the
woods at the Kiwa Trail on the River "S" Unit at Ridgefield. We spotted
three CINNAMON TEAL in Rest Lake, a dark-phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, and
watched a PEREGRINE FALCON attempt to chase down a flying "Cackling"
Canada Goose. There were two puzzling buteos that may be FERRUGINOUS
HAWKS in the grass field as you head back to the restroom area at the end
of the auto tour route. They perch on the ground, hover like a
Rough-legged, have an immaculate white breast, and the tails are lightly
marked without a dark terminal band. The beak is large, not dainty like a
R.L. Hawk and the overall head shape is more elongated than a R.L. Hawk.
If anyone else observes these birds I would appreciate hearing their
opinion of what they may be.
Wilson Cady
gorgebirds at juno.com