Susan and I went down to check the mudflats south of the Flushing Channel at Vancouver Lake. There was the largest group of shorebirds that I have ever seen there with somewhere between 500 and 1,000 individuals all at the southwest corner of the lake. WESTERN SANDPIPERS and LEAST SANDPIPERS made up the bulk of the birds but I did find 2 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER and 2 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES before the heat became uncomfortable. There were 4 CASPIAN TERNS on the sandbar near the LaFramboise Road boat launch and the biggest surprise was a complete lack of grebes on the lake where both Western and Clark's are regular and expected this time of the year.
The small pond on the right side of the road known as Ruefner's Pond had 5 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 2 lESSER YELLOWLEGS, a SOLITARY SANDPIPER and 2 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS. This pond usually goes completely dry by the end of September and is always worth checking. It and the land going north towards Vancouver Lake are now a wetland mitigation bank and there are plans for future access as the area is restored.

Wilson Cady
Washougal, WA

____________________________________________________________
Best Weight Loss Program - Click Here!
http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTFoYe69vMVQjN3ww9FfYriJjUsWuTrBapA58Rsr3CbA8dTHkeu0hC/