set out on calm waters and headed over towards the Harrison River. Some days when you are out there, there are birds everywhere, some days not so much....
that isn't to say there were no birds, but they were keeping their distance. Water levels have dropped to where the gravel bars are quite visible under the water....at it's current rate conditions should be just about perfect for migrating shore birds which will be happening pretty much anytime now. There were lots of Canada Geese out there, most of them just finishing up their molt and once again, airborne.
went ashore at this log jam which lies between the estuary and the Harrison River proper. There had been a couple of Osprey here until we got close. There were also large numbers of swallows of all descriptions, Tree, Violet-Green, Barn and Northern Rough-wing, but all flying, not perched for pictures....
Also flying here were....
5 or 6 of these.....Caspian Tern! Didn't have the right camera with me for capturing birds in flight but this is one of those 'proof they were there' photos and this makes species #180 that I've documented for the estuary. They were only there for a few minutes, obviously just passing through.
not quite as exciting...we did see a number of Red-wing Blackbirds...all down low and being quiet....
Even the Chehalis river wasn't it's usual hot bed of bird activity. A few Cedar Waxwing flew across, saw one Spotted Sandpiper and caught sight of an adult Catbird with a mouthful of food, so obviously nestlings nearby....only bird that co-operated momentarily was....
this, Eastern Kingbird....a fairly regular 'uncommon' summer visitor to the area.
Any further exploration was called off due to the wind that had come up resulting in white cap waves. Hopefully we'll get out again before water levels drop too much and maybe next time birds will be a little more co-operative.
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