On March 8th, I led a trip for the Vancouver Audubon Chapter. Our target
species were some rarities reported on OBOL and TWEETERS. We started out
at Vancouver Lake in Clark County, looking for the HARRIS' SPARROW near
the Alcoa BPA Substation mailbox on Old River Road. We dipped on this
bird but spread more bird seed while we were there. Back near the
intersection of Old Lower River Road we got a brief glimpse of a SWAMP
SPARROW in the second wetland in from Lower River Road on the north side
of the road.
From here we went to the Tukwila Golf Course in Woodburn, Oregon
and found the male VERMILION FLYCATCHER near the pond that is about
halfway across the field along the gravel path that starts near the
restrooms on Hazelnut Drive.
We returned to Vancouver Lake in the afternoon and checked the
spots we chummed with birdseed and were able to observe the HARRIS'
SPARROW through a spotting scope as it perched in the rosebush. This time
when we checked the wetlands along Old Lower River Road we found three
SWAMP SPARROWS.
Thanks to all of the active birders that have been keeping the
rest of us up to date on these birds.

Wilson Cady
Washougal, WA
gorgebirds at juno.com