Arden and I went out today (Sunday 22nd) to see the RED or ORANGE BISHOP.
After studying the photos I could find on the internet and information
(which is very sketchy) and the fact that they often combine the two species
into one, we could not make a call on the identification of this absolutely
beautiful bird. It was located on the Kiwa trail of the River "S" unit of
the Ridgefield NWR. We located the bird from the long bridge far out on the
trail. It was working in the tall grasses eating the seeds. We watched for
the bird for quite a long time then birded that immediate area (getting
great views of VIRGINIA RAIL, seeing AMERICAN BITTERN & WILSON'S SNIPE
flying and listening to SORA calling, etc., then came back for a final look.
We were about ready to go when Arden saw it fly into view and we watched as
it worked the tall grasses. It was acting very "natural" as a seed-eating
finch would do. We watched it for a while and then it flew back into the
tall grasses out sight and did not reappear so we left. Is there any chance
this bird flew (migrated north) with other birds and is from the California
flock(s)? I took some slides (far away) but forgot the digital at home.

Six BONAPART'S GULLS were seening along with one BLACK TERN in the same
area as this species was seen in years past (in the area out from the
blind).

Sherry Hagen
Vancouver, WA
littlebirder at netzero.net