Sunday (today), we took advantage of our last "free" day (before the house
painters come) to try out our new spotting scope. Paradise Point State Park
off Exit 16 I-5 S was our first stop, only because we've never been there.
It was a short trip. I did get to see some Golden-Crowned Kinglets "up
close" with the scope, though. Very nice.



Next, we stopped in the City of Ridgefield and parked near the Public Works
on Division Street. I was too busy marveling at the birds through the scope
to take photos. We saw all the usual ducks, geese, herons, cranes and coots.
There was such a cacophony of Red-winged Blackbirds going on that I felt the
need to record a bit of their overlapping (and overwhelming) songs. It was
just heavenly.



As we walked along the path back toward the car, a lone European Starling
high up on a wire decided to mark the occasion by adding a wet spot to the
tripod I had slung over my shoulder. Luckily the splash only hit my fingers
and not my face or the new scope. Ha!



The final stop was the auto tour of the River S Unit at Ridgefield NWR. The
beautiful weather brought out many visitors, three of whom could not seem to
understand the concept of Staying in Their Vehicles. Pictures of the
offenders - with license plates - can be seen here:
http://flic.kr/s/aHsjRivuxo



My husband was lucky enough to see an American Bittern up close, among other
gorgeous birds. A Great Egret had blood all over its beak from a recent
kill. Here's a link to his flickr photostream: http://flic.kr/ps/zMtT9



I got a few "lucky shots" myself. Hooded Mergansers and the Bald Eagle pair
were highlights for us. Some are posted on my flickr photostream:
http://flic.kr/p/jwUJUH This link is for the Merganser photo.



It was a perfect way to end our weekend!





Amy Hill

Kalama, Washington

628 feet up in Cowlitz County

60stops 2 home at kalama dot com

Artlessfun at yahoo dot com