I visited several areas of Ridgefield NWR today and found some new
arrivals or otherwise newly located birds. A few Western Sandpipers
were on Rest Lake with Least, both yellowlegs, and LB Dowitchers.
Only one Am White Pelican as water is being dropped rapidly, so Rest
Lake should improve as the month progresses. Killdeer and snipe were
on Canvasback Lake opposite the Kiwa Trail. On closed units south of
the auto tour route I had a Red-eyed Vireo singing constantly during a
5-minute stop in ash forest, and a Green Heron in a wetland not far
from Lake River. Purple Martins are still entering gourds with food.
No sign of any of the Black Phoebes for a week but they are probably
somewhere along Bower Slough and should be watched for along the auto
route. Near Bachelor Slough in a tree that often holds a Peregrine
Falcon I was puzzled by a non-buteo form that turned out not to be the
peregrine. I didn't realize until it flew (not to be relocated) that
it was an accipiter, a rather early and out of place juvie NORTHERN
GOSHAWK. On the trip out at the end of the day an adult Peregrine
Falcon was sitting in one of the favorite trees waiting for a chase.

A note for planning visits. The River S road will be closed during
the week beginning sometime late in August and for a 2-3 week period
for road surfacing and work on pullouts. The plan is to have it open
on weekends during the construction period, but the road down the hill
to the bridge probably will be pretty rough from loads of hauled
gravel. Until the surface is completely finished it will be much
slower than the posted 15 mph speed limit.

Randy Hill
Ridgefield