My son Doug and I went to Ridgefield today. It was a
beautiful day to be out of doors. While on the Kiwa
trail, we saw 2 White-tailed Kites; an adult and a
juvenile. At one point we had them both in the scope
at 60yds. The light angle was great as was the
contrast in plumages. We also saw them hunting,
hovering, soaring and play-touching in flight. At one
point the two had perched on top of some willow-like
brush off to the west side of the trail, just S of the
center bridge. They had not been there much longer
than it takes to put the scope on them, when a female
Harrier at attack speed, came from the north just
above the brush. WOW! Did she set them straight as to
just whose territory the brush was in. It happened so
fast it is hard to say if she actually toughed talons
with one of them or they both veered off within a few
inches of each other. Great show anyhoo! The Kites
beat a hasty retreat to easterly edge of the main lake
with the hunt blind in it.

Later on the Kiwa Trail Doug spotted a male Pileated
Woodpecker that took about 10 minutes of harassing
from some Robins it kept trying to ignore, before it
finally flew to another part of the Oregon Ash
woodland.

After the Kiwa trail we drove S into the Oregon Ash
woodland, where we had lunch and watched a Great
Horned Own hanging out in the shady woods.

It was a very good day to go over the river and
through the woods.

bill clemons
SW of Portland in Mtn Park
willclemons at yahoo.com




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