[obol] A great day at Ridgefield
- From: "Wayne Weber" <contopus@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "OBOL2" <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2013 23:26:33 -0800
Birders,
On Thanksgiving Day, as I was returning home after having seen the
long-staying RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER in La Grande, I decided to stop in at
Ridgefield NWR to see if I could locate the female Vermilion Flycatcher, or
anything else of interest. I started around the "River S Loop" at about 8:45
AM, and camped out at post #11 where the Vermilion had been seen. At first
no other birders were there, but soon Matt Bartels showed up, and spotted
the VERMILION FLYCATCHER at about 9:50 AM. The bird was in view for most of
the next 30 minutes, and though it was very active, I was able to get
several good views through my scope, as did several other birders who began
to accumulate at post #11. Matt had to leave early, but several of us also
saw a BLACK PHOEBE along the slough close to where the Vermilion had been.
At this same spot, I also got brief views of a very late NORTHERN
ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, which I don't think was seen by anyone else. A short
distance farther along (near post #12), after leaving the group of birders,
I heard but did not see a loudly-calling RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, a bit less
unusual than the other 3 species.
I eventually did a second run around the auto loop, and added several
species that I missed the first time, but did not see the Vermilion again.
However, even without the rarities, the birding was outstanding, as it
usually is at Ridgefield, and the weather was great-- sunny, no wind, and a
high temperature of 53 degrees!
I am attaching my complete list of 55 species observed.
And, with reference to the Vermilion Flycatcher, who says that lightning
never strikes twice in the same place?
Good luck and good birding,
Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus@xxxxxxxxx
-----Original Message-----
Subject: eBird Report - Ridgefield NWR--River 'S' Unit, 28-Nov-2013
Ridgefield NWR--River 'S' Unit, Clark, US-WA
28-Nov-2013 8:45 AM - 2:20 PM
Protocol: Traveling
4.2 mile(s)
Comments: With Matt Bartels, Wendy Duncan, Tammy Bjorkman et al. near
post #11
55 species
Cackling Goose 1500
Canada Goose 200
Tundra Swan 500
Gadwall 40
Eurasian Wigeon 1
American Wigeon 150
Mallard 60
Cinnamon Teal 18
Northern Shoveler 200
Northern Pintail 200
Green-winged Teal 100
Canvasback 2
Ring-necked Duck 25
Lesser Scaup 3
Bufflehead 15
Hooded Merganser 7
Ruddy Duck 13
Pied-billed Grebe 15
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Great Blue Heron 20
Great Egret 8
Northern Harrier 5
Bald Eagle 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 10
Virginia Rail 5
American Coot 100
Sandhill Crane 30
Long-billed Dowitcher 6
Wilson's Snipe 14
Herring Gull 1
Glaucous-winged Gull 2
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1
Northern Flicker 2
American Kestrel 1
Black Phoebe 1 Bird seen briefly but well through scope, perched on
small branch above slough near post #11 on tour route. Bird had erect
posture, fairly long tail; black except for white abdomen and undertail
coverts. Appeared a bit larger than Vermilion Flycatcher which was seen a
few minutes earlier.
Vermilion Flycatcher 1 Female (previously reported on Nov. 25, 26, and
27) seen well thru scope from post #11 on auto tour route. Bird actively
feeding and changing perches frequently about 50 metres away. A small
flycatcher, grayish-brown on upperparts, with somewhat darker mask;
underparts whitish, with indistinct brownish streaks on breast. Undertail
coverts and lower belly with buffy-yellowish color. No calls heard. First
seen by Matt Bartels, present from about 9:50 to 10:20 AM.
Steller's Jay 3
Western Scrub-Jay 3
American Crow 1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1 One bird, seen twice through binoculars
for about 30 seconds each time. Upperparts medium brown; underparts white,
with no breast-band evident. Not a Bank Swallow because of the lack of a
breast band, which would have been evident at the distance at which this
bird was seen (as close as 30 metres).
Black-capped Chickadee 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Pacific Wren 1
Marsh Wren 5
Bewick's Wren 3
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
European Starling 25
Spotted Towhee 1
Fox Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 15
Golden-crowned Sparrow 4
Red-winged Blackbird 2
View this checklist online at
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15803547
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
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