The River "S" Unit of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge has a 4.2 mile auto tour route and 1.5 mile seasonal hiking trail. The auto tour is an excellent way to see the Refuge. A pair of binoculars is a must and a camera makes it even more fun !!!
This trip includes ...
Bald Eagle ... American Coot (with chick) ... Barn Swallow ... Brown Creeper ... Black-headed Grosbeak ... Common Yellowthroat ... House Finch ... Song Sparrow ... Savannah Sparrow ... Cedar Waxwing ... Sora ... Red-winged Blackbird ... Yellow-headed Blackbird ... Cinnamon Teal ... Blue-winged Teal ... Greater White-fronted Goose ... Canada Goose ... American Bittern ... Great Egret ... Great Blue Heron ... American Vetch ... Ox-eyed Daisy ...
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Bald Eagle, adult.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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Bald Eagle, adult.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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American Coot adult with chicks.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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American Coot, nest with chicks (left), and chick (right).
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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American Coot adult and chick.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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American Coot chick.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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American Coot chick.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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Brown Creeper, housekeeping.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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Brown Creeper.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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Brown Creeper.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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Barn Swallow.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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Black-headed Grosbeak.
Kiwa Trail, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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Common Yellowthroat, male.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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House Finch.
Kiwa Trail, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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Song Sparrow.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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Savannah Sparrow.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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Cedar Waxwing.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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Cedar Waxwing.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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Sora.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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Yellow-headed Blackbird.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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Red-winged Blackbird, male.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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Cinnamon Teal, male.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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Blue-winged Teal, male.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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White-fronted Geese, telephoto view.
View enlarged 200%.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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White-fronted Goose (left) and Canada Goose (right).
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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American Bittern, calling.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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Great Egret.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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The following events played out in front of the bird blind on the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge's "S" Unit Auto Tour. A Great Blue Heron arrived looking for a meal and the birds in the area defended their young. The Heron first eyed the baby Coots near the blind (see above) and was charged by the Coot adults. The Heron then changed location from near the blind to near the edge of the lake where he/she was attacked by a male Red-winged Blackbird and chased away. The Heron finally landed at various locations in the lake where eventually he battled a Grebe protecting his/her half-grown chick (???). The chick lost.
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Great Blue Heron.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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American Vetch.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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Ox-eyed Daisy.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, May 26, 2007.
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© 2009, Lyn Topinka, EnglishRiverWebsite, All rights reserved.
Images are NOT to be downloaded from this website.
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RidgefieldBirds.com/TheRefuge/TripLogs/ridgefield_NWR_05-26-07.html
February 2008
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