Subject: [Tweeters] FWD [OBOL]: Ridgefield Possible Bewick's Swan
Date: Nov 1 22:45:33 2008
From: Will Clemons - willclemons at yahoo.com


Message Forwarded for Carol Ledford (posted to OBOL Nov 1, 2008)

Subject: Ridgefield Possible Bewick's Swan
From: Carol Ledford <uskestrel AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 1 Nov 2008 19:03:17 -0700 (PDT)

Today I birded the River "S" Unit at Ridgefield NWR (~4mi W of I-5 at Exit 14 in SW Washington; http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/), and it was lovely. Fortunately, the rain stopped a little before 1:00, which greatly improved the day.

There were >100 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and many GREATER YELLOWLEGS on Rest Lake, as well as three CANVASBACK and thousands of miscellaneous ducks, geese, and swans. Among the swans I noticed one that I think is a BEWICK's - extensive yellow on the bill, unlike any I've seen previously, and matching all photos I've looked at on-line. My photo of the bird is terrible, but one can see the extent of the yellow, in case anyone wants to check it out. I'd be glad to forward it for your input.

Other fun sightings today included five otters running across the prairie from one waterway toward Lake River. Very fun creatures!

Carol Ledford