[obol] Clark Cnty. Emperor Goose and LT Duck

[Al Ahlgrim]

A small group of us braved the cold east wind to get some good looks at the Washougal Sewage Lagoons LONG-TAILED DUCK this morning.  The LTD spent much more time under water than on the surface but was near the center of the pond nearest the highway and could be seen with the naked eye when it surfaced.  A sincere thank you to Wilson Cady and his on going reports on the duck as well as his wildlife efforts in the Washougal area.  The EARED GREBE and some BARROWS GOLDEN-EYES were also seen there.

I went to the Vancouver Lake area for a third try on the juvenile EMPEROR GOOSE which had been located by Carol Ledford a few weeks ago.  I located one juvenile EMPEROR GOOSE south of the Lake at about MP 3.8 on the road. (SR 501)  It was on the east side in a small flock of CANADA GEESE near a power line tower.  I parked on the west side of the road and walked the east shoulder which is narrow at that location.  The goose was a few feet outside the main flock.  After about 45 seconds of good viewing the goose merged back into the CANADA GOOSE flock and I lost sight of it.  If I had arrived a minute later I'd probably not have seen it as I was cold and tired of looking at geese.  It's all about timing and I got lucky this time.  This goose was heavy bodied and plainer than Sibley's pictures.  It's face was pale, but not bright white.  It looked to be about half way between an adult and a juvenile.
Al Ahlgrim
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