I did three quick drive through checks at the Ridgefield NWR hoping to see
the Prairie Falcon that has been seen there. I did not find the Prairie
Falcon, but did find some good birds in the cold rain as follows:

100+ Sandhill Cranes coming in from the north near dark. Many feed during
the day in fields west of Woodland and then roost on the refuge during the
night
1 Savannah Sparrow
1 Swamp Sparrow
1 young Peregrine Falcon, it and an almost adult Bald Eagle later joined by
a Northern Harrier kept swooping down on 1 small duck who kept on diving to
miss the talons of these raptors. The duck was still there when I left
1 beautiful dark Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk first thought it might be an eagle
until I could see no white on the head. Was wondering if Harlan's doesn't
average a slightly larger size than the normal Red-tailed Hawk---anyone
know.


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