Sherry and I visited the River S unit of Ridgefield NWR. finding 41 species. There were lots of waterfowl as usual. Over a hundred TUNDRA SWANS were seen on Rest Lake, along with RUDDY DUCKS, NORTHERN PINTAILS, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and other waterfowl. The raptors were out and about with 3 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 9 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 3 AMERICAN KESTRELS, and 4 BALD EAGLES. The pair of GREAT HORNED OWLS were in their snag tree. In a wet muddy section, we had at least 35 WILSON?S SNIPE accompanied with 13 KILLDEER. We picked up a WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH working the Oregon Ash on the way to the blind. We had a cooperative AMERICAN BITTERN working the waters edge in the canal on the south end of the refuge. Five GREAT EGRETS were seen throughout, and we had 9 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, 3 MARSH WRENS, and a BELTED KINGFISHER. In the far south east corner of the refuge we spotted 3 Columbian White-tailed Deer.

Dave Hayden
dtvhm at nwrain.com
Centralia, WA