Ridgefield again.

I wasn't planning on going back up to Ridgefield this morning, but I could not resist tracking down the American Avocet reported yesterday.  I found the bird easily (woohoo!) and lots of other fun stuff too. 


I've seen tons of avocets before, but never one at Ridgefield, or even in Washington.  So that was cool.  There were other shorebirds around, of which I got even worse photos.  Except for these two Spotted Solitary Sandpipers:


The trees were no longer filled with egrets on this trip.  Where did they go?  There were plenty of herons to make up for them.


Apparently it's the season for tadpoles...


It was a fun quick-ish trip to Ridgefield.  I was psyched to add the avocet to my Ridgefield list (when I make one... or does eBird do that for me?  Hmm... ).  On the way home I figured I'd stop near Vancouver Lake to walk the dogs.  We found some swallows catching some rays on a fence...


They appear to be Northern Rough-winged Swallow juveniles.


Good times!!

Comments

  1. Cheers Jen, way to stay in the game and continue to hone your skillz with the Avocet.

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  2. How about Solitary Sandpiper for those "Spotteds"? With the first picture, I want to immediately call it a Solitary, but then with second (extended necks and two birds), I consider Lesser Yellowlegs. However, those legs sure are short and greenish, and the bill strikes me as being too down-curved for Lesser anyways. Super solid eye-ring? Thoughts?

    Your swallows sure look like Rough-wingeds to me. Nice birding out there!

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    Replies
    1. Yeah I really thought they were Solitarys when I saw them in person (in bird?), but then when I got home I doubted myself. Dang it!

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  3. I love the Avocets, they are beautiful birds. I would be thrilled seeing the Bittern, they are really shy around here. I am no help with the Sandpiper ids. They are great photos. Sounds like a great time and congrats on your Avocet sighting.

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  4. I was thinking of going there early tomorrow- didn't know about the Avocet, so thanks!

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  5. Good times indeed! I have never seen the avocet SO I would make a trip for that if he was nearby!! Great sandpiper and swallow shots the 3 on the wire are in such perfect balance!!

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