Just west of Vancouver Lake
Not actually Oregon birds but JUST across our northernborder (about a mile from
Sauvie Island but across the Columbia River) but may be of interest to Portland
area birders…….
My Wife, Gina, and I made a trip up to Ridgefield on the 26th andstopped at
another area before heading for Home. The most interesting thing at
Ridgefieldwas an Albino Nutria sitting on a rock with others of the normal hue!
It has been a long time since I was thereand I thought that the numbers were
rather low but it was a cold day (supposedto be the coldest of the week.) and
rattled back and forth from wet topartially sunny with a stiff breeze most of
the time. Quite a few swans and most had their headsburied in feathers but
those that I got a scope on were all Tundras.
Our best “Finds” for the day were from Hwy 501 just west of VancouverLake.
There was a very large flock of Canadas/CacklingGeese at about N 45 42’ 27.61”
W 122 45’28.72”. The road is closed a littlefurther north of there. At the
verysouthern end of the flock there was a lone Brant (Black Phase) trying
tounsuccessfully mingle (hide?) in the large flock of his cousins.
Further south at N 45 40’ 42.56” W 122 45’ 38.29 was a very large flock ofSnow
Geese (2,000++). Looking thoughthe flock with binocs we located 2
‘Blue/Dark’ Phase birds and there wereprobably more as more than half of the
flock was behind unmowed blocks ofcornstalks. Turned around and hand heldthe
scope out of the car window and relocated them quite quickly but the flockmoves
rapidly and chaotically in and out of sight behind the blocks ofcornstalks.
They are very methodicallypushing the cornstalks over and tearing them apart!!
We took a quick and unproductive check of the water onVancouver Lake from the
Park and as we left and joined up with Highway 501 at N 45 40'12.73" W 122 44'
39.47" and again checked out a small group of Canadas and saw 3 Greater
White-frontedGeese leading the pack. One was a cleanadult and I hesitate to
comment on the parentage of its companions.
Bob Taylor, Canby OR
PS. No, we haven’tseen the Mandarin Duck since its reappearance at the Canby
Community Park Pondbut we have sure tried!! Back when I first saw it, it was
an expected escaped exotic from just up the creek that feeds Canby Pond from
the east.
