Tweeters,

Since it was raining down here in Clark County this morning and since Randy
Hill found a Semipalmated Sandpiper at Ridgefield yesterday, I decided to
visit the refuge this morning and try my luck. Shorebirds are definitely
arriving and any visit to the refuge specifically to look for shorebirds
should be planned based on the tides. High Tide or the rising tide is
best. This morning's shorebird tally on S. Big Lake (on the right side of
the auto tour loop on the south end of Rest Lake - between markers 11 and
12):

Killdeer: 15
Greater Yellowlegs: 15
Lesser Yellowlegs: 1
Least Sandpiper: 40
Western Sandpiper: 12
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER: 1 (first of season - adult)
Pectoral Sandpiper: 5+ (first of season - presumably all adults - 2
observed on the mud and nearby vegetation and a flock of four flying off to
nearby Campbell Lake)
Long-billed Dowitcher: 10
Wilson's Snipe: 6

I wasn't able to locate the Semipalmated Sandpiper.

There were two very cute River Otters near stop 12 quite audibly enjoying
their morning breakfast.

Currently, the water level on Rest Lake is still too high to attract
shorebirds although there was one lone Long-billed Dowitcher on the edge of
it this morning.

Keep your eyes and ears skyward.

Jim
--
Jim Danzenbaker
Battle Ground, WA
360-702-9395
jdanzenbaker at gmail.com
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