Was checking out the birds of Ridgefield NWR when Mike and MerryLynn Denny
with Rosemarie Messinger pulled up behind me. Birds seen on the refuge
driving route totaled 49 species. We birded approx. 1.5 hours. Highlights
included were: 3 Tundra Swans, 1 American Bittern, 1+ Great Egret, 2 Greater
Yellowlegs, 10 Long-billed Dowitchers, 1 Wilson's Snipe, 1 Great Horned Owl
(seen), and 1 Brown-headed Cowbird.

Bushtits were hanging around their old nest hanging in the ivy over the
shoulder of the road as it leads down into the ravine. Don't remember if
they reuse their old nests or not. Other birds in the wooded ravine were: 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch, lots of Winter Wrens singing, both Kinglets with the
Ruby-crowned Kinglets singing and the Golden-crowned just the high pitched
calls.

Many ducks were are the move as were the (Taviner's) race of Canada Goose.
No odd species of geese with the flocks of Canadas. Did not note any
falcons except a pair of American Kestrels.

Ken Knittle
Washington Birder newsletter
2604 NE 80th Street
Vancouver, WA 98665
360-574-2590
mailto:washingtonbirder at hotmail.com