.................Friday, drove around the perimeter of Julia Butler
Hansen Whitetail Deer Refuge at Cathalmet , Wash. Te smelt were running
in the river, so scads of gulls, cormorants and grebes everywhere up
the river towards Longview. 12 -14 Bald Eagles (both mature and
immature) seen around the refuge( I'm sure to participate in the elegant
dining!!). Just a thought---to those of you who are used to seeing
"zillions" of Bald Eagles at one time along the Skagit River or up in
Alaska, the numbers may seem minisque, but the numbers at JBH Fri. were
awesome considering that on each of previous visits I may see none to
just 2 or 3 at one time.
.................A YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was flitting around the slough
by the admin. office. A BELTED KINGFISHER was nearby, as well as *lots*
of PIED-BILLED GREBES; several HOODED MERGANSERS; 3 COMMON GOLDENEYES,
along with the more common SCAUP and RINGNECKS, etc.....etc.
RED-TAILEDand HARRIER HAWKS around but......didn't see the Black Phoebe
today. And then there were the elk!!!!
.................Sat. on Willapa Bay---tide was high. A large raft of
dark mallard-sized "ducks" were seen. My guess that they were Black
Brant, but too far out in the middle of the bay for clear viewing even
with spotting scope. SONG SPARROWS and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS playing
around in the grass and brush. GREATER YELLOWLEGS reported. Several Bald
Eagles again.
.................Again humongous numbers of DUNLIN on the ocean
beach---every Dunlin standing on one leg!!!!!
..................Nothing extraordinary---just *neat viewing*.

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