Fernhill Wetlands south of Forest Grove was kind of slow mid morning. The only
highlight was a Black Phoebe near the shack at NE corner of the large pond.
Hagg Lake was a little bit more interesting: At the first stop (Elks) I found a
somewhat odd-looking WHITE-WINGED SCOTER. I refound the bird later from Rec
Area A. There were no other scoters (there are often female-type Surf Scoters
present this time of the year), but 3 Eared Grebes, a flock of ~8 Western
Bluebird, an American Pipit, an American Dipper (Scoggins Creek picnic area)
and 3 Greater Scaup (Rec Area C) were all pretty decent birds. The oddest
sighting of the day was a large dark bird that scuttled across the road before
disappearing into the woods which ended up being an injured Turkey Vulture.
Stefan SchlickHillsboro, OR
