Subject: [Tweeters] Wahkiakum County - Brandt's Cormorant,
Date: Oct 9 19:35:47 2010
From: washingtonbirder.Ken Knittle - washingtonbirder at hotmail.com



Tom Mansfield and I birded Wahkiakum County Sat. Oct. 9, 2010. A Sora called along Brook Slough Road on the Julia Butler Hansen NWR in the first cattails going west. 23 Greater White-fronted Geese, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowithcers, Western Meadowlark, and a beautiful Red-shouldered Hawk were also seen on the refuge. The road through the refuge is closed to thru traffic. Best birded by entering from Skamokawa.

Altoona producered our best bird, Brandt's Cormorant, Wahkiakum County's 2'nd record. Winnie Lowsma had the first county record in Nov. 4, 2004. Brandt's Cormorants are very tough in fresh water. More so than Pelagic Cormorants. Other birds at Altoona were 100's of Surf Scoters, 2 White-winged Scoters, Pacific Loon, several Common Loons, and a flock of Lesser Scaup. Absent for the day were owls, and White-tailed Kites. Those planning to bird Altoona are advised to have a scope for the long distant water birds.






Ken Knittle
Vancouver WA 98665
mailto:washingtonbirder.com
Washington Birder online
http://www.wabirder.com/