Tweeters,
I went down to Vancouver Lake, Clark County, on Jan. 22, mainly
to escape the 40-60 mph winds here in the Gorge. On a windless Vancouver
Lake there were PIED-BILLED GREBE, HORNED GREBE and about a dozen WESTERN
GREBES and a couple of CLARK'S GREBES. One of the Clark's (?) has a white
streak that runs up the back of the neck and across the top of the head
giving the bird the appearance of a giant phalarope. Among the grebes was
one PACIFIC LOON.
Along the first slough north of Vancouver Lake Park there was a
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK perched on a fence post on the creek bank. I have
seen one of these birds here earlier in the fall so it might be hanging
around in this patch of riparian habitat.
On the way home a check of the ponds at the Steigerwald Lake NWR
produced the MUTE SWAN in the eastern pond, about the only open water I
could see in the 24 degree/30 mph wind.

Wilson Cady
Washougal, WA