Finally, this morning on my third try for the Great Egret that Sullivans have been posting about at Vance Creek county park here in Elma, I found it perched in the small trees along the southern side of pond #2 (west of the restrooms). A Great Blue Heron was perched about 10 yards away from it which allowed great size comparisons. The egret was quite active flying around the pond. I was there around 7:30am this morning. I also noted approximately 30 Trumpeter Swans on the pond on the other side of Wenzel Slough Rd.. Not to mention the big group of Double-crested Comorants that are roaming between all the ponds in the area of the park. I counted 50 of them on one pond, but they were moving around quite a bit.

I did find one other thing of interest this morning, on the western end of Wenzel Slough Rd. at the "Must register to hunt" station on Bill Goeres farm there was a little piece of paper attached to the sign that said, "Birdwatching Encouraged". I checked the registration box there to see if any birders had indeed registered and there was one lady that had reported 5 swans. I know I will be checking out this area more now. There is a little wetland at that location that hosts lots of waterfowl. It is popular with hunters. This morning there were no hunters, but I didn't have my boots so I didn't go explore. Next time I will! I wonder if we birders can consider the Washington state Department of Wildlife signs that say "Feel Free to Hunt" that are posted on private property as a "Feel Free to Bird" sign as well. I have often pondered that while driving past those signs on the Brady Loop. Does anyone have any experience with these signs that might know more? Maybe our!
wildlife
department representatives on the list can answer this question.

Good birding

Tim O'Brien
Elma, WA
mailto: kertim7179 at yahoo.com



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