After scouring all the ponds at Vance County Park and not seeing the tufted
duck I figured I'd better think like a duck. Knowing of the oxbow ponds
between Wenzel Slough and the Chehalis River along Wakefield Rd made me go
A-Ha!!!!

On Wakefield Rd about .35 miles south of Wenzel Slough Rd is a small oxbow
lake in a grassy farm field. As I passed it to check an oxbow further south
I could see lots of scaups. After striking out further south I returned to
the above location, parked in the minute lot next to the field, skinnied
myself through the stile and got to where I could scan the pond. Sure
enough, paddling slowly away was the male tufted duck with his snazzy head
feather(s) dangling from the back of his head. Without those feathers he
would have looked like any other scaup. And best of all was he had a female
with him. Their synchronized movements as well as their staying very close
together makes me pretty sure it is a female tufted despite her lack of
decorative head feathers.

So for those of you venturing out to Vance County Park, try the ponds on
Wakefield south of there if they are not in the park.

Also, saw the first yellow-rumped warbler of the season on Brady Loop Rd.
this afternoon. Spring is here.

Mary Hrudkaj
Somewhere SW of Belfair in Mason County
hrudkajm at hotmail.com