[obol] Ridgefield NWR: SWAINSON'S THRUSH Big Day, etc.

[Bill Clemons]

Tuesday (7/03/07), Debby de Carlo and I birded the
River "S" Unit at Ridgefield NWR (~4mi W of I-5 at
Exit 14 in SW Washington;
http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ ).  I also
birded some with Al Larrabee in the morning, and Jeff
Jendro birded with Debby and I for most of the day. 
Lyn Topinka was there taking photos and I believe she
got some good snaps of the ORIOLE and the SWAINSON'S
THRUSH.

It seems that it is becoming harder to find birds. 
They are very likely still around, but Ridgefield has
so many hiding spots (and out of bounds habitat), they
can easily play hide and seek.

We walked the Kiwa trail, but it was real quiet.

Highlights:

YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS:  I do not think I could ever
tire of watching this Absolutely knockout species! 
Males, females and babies are all quite striking. They
can still be found, but it takes more patience as most
have dispersed.  Look in Long Lake for foragers, and S
Quigley Lake for two remaining nesters that are nearly
done (babies were still heard there). In the Cattails
off the right side of the Blind, they were still
feeding young also.

BULLOCK'S ORIOLE:  The nesting pair is still easy to
find (~ 30 feet up) directly over the gravel road,
past the R/R tracks and immediately prior to driving
onto the bridge to the Refuge proper.  The female was
seen poking her head out, as well as leaving and
returning, and sitting on eggs.  The male was seen
checking on her, and perching as sentry.  He was
calling and singing in full sun in the same tree.
 
SWAINSON'S THRUSH:  This was my personal "best day"
ever for SWAINSON'S THRUSH.  While I was birding near
the R/R tracks, I saw FIVE of them in the open, on the
ground!  Three E of the tracks in the road at the base
of the hill and two W of the tracks, on the road, near
the "big silver electrical R/R cabinet".  The ones W
of the tracks were less than 25 feet away, in full
sunlight, and moving around to show all sides.  Real
Nice!


Bill Clemons
SW of Portland in Mtn Park
Willclemons AT Yahoo dot com

Complete list of 63 species seen / heard:

Pied-billed Grebe
American Bittern
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Turkey Vulture
Canada Goose
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Cinnamon Teal
Canvasback
Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup
Ruddy Duck
Osprey
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Virginia Rail
Sora
American Coot
Killdeer
Greater Yellowlegs
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Snipe
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Vaux's Swift
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Western Wood-Pewee
Willow Flycatcher
Steller's Jay
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Bushtit
Red-breasted Nuthatch         (heard only – entrance
canyon)
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
House Wren
Winter Wren                       (seen & heard –
entrance canyon)
Marsh Wren
SWAINSON'S THRUSH
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler                (heard only – entrance
canyon)
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD
Brown-headed Cowbird
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE
House Finch
American Goldfinch


       
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