On Saturday, Nov. 13th, Kathy Andrich, Ann Marie Wood, Shawn
Schmelzer and her friend Jurgen joined me for a Washington Ornithological
Society trip to the Ridgefield N.W.R. and Vancouver Lake. We came up with
a total of sixty-six species on a pleasant partially cloudy day and had a
chance to puzzle through at least four varieties of Canada Geese.
We started the morning out at the Ridgefield River "S" Unit where
the birds were concentrated in the areas away from the hunters though we
heard a fair number of shots fired during our visit. Waterfowl seen
included TUNDRA SWAN, CANADA GOOSE, CACKLING GOOSE, CINNAMON TEAL (10),
CANVASBACK, and RUDDY DUCK. There was one AMERICAN BITTERN and about two
dozen GREAT EGRETS at Rest Lake. As usual there were plenty of RED-TAILED
HAWK morphs to keep you on edge including a rufous bird that was perching
back in the trees near the Kiwa Trail that at first glance looked like a
Red-shouldered Hawk. As we rounded rest Lake we were able to approach
within fifty feet of a "HARLEN"S RED-TAILED HAWK for excellent views.
At the Carty Unit we walked part of the "Oaks to Wetland Trail"
in search of the "SLENDER-BILLED" WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH which we found
in a mixed flock with DOWNY WOODPECKER, BLACK-CAPPED and CHESTNUT-BACKED
CHICKADEES, BROWN CREEPERS, and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS. We were able to
elicit a response from a VIRGINIA RAIL to my imitation of its call.
We finished our tour at Vancouver Lake where the only birds of
interest were HORNED GREBES and WESTERN GREBES at the "Flushing Channel".
We did enjoy the sight of another forty GREAT EGRETS as they flew in to a
roost in the trees overlooking Campbell Lake.
Wilson Cady