My wife, Susan and I did a little birding today at Vancouver Lake
and the Ridgefield NWR in Clark County. As we traveled west on Highway 14
we encountered a kettle of seven OSPREY circling near the interchange
with Highwy 205, my first of the season. At Vancouver Lake there were 8
WESTERN GREBES some of which were starting their courtship displays of
head bobbing and synchronized runs across the water.
The number of waterfowl at Ridgefield has dropped considerably
but there still are thousands of CACKLING GEESE being pushed around by
BALD EAGLES. Some of the RUDDY DUCKS have acquired their breeding plumage
and at least one pair of CANVASBACK remain on Rest Lake. A very
cooperative AMERICAN BITTERN feed in one of the canals along the Auto
Tour route allowing many people to enjoy watching it hunt.
At Vancouver Lake we found GREAT EGRETS near the heron nest
colonies and there was at least one visible on Rest Lake at Ridgefield.
Wilson Cady
Washougal, WA