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 !!!
Beautiful Tundra Swans ... LOTS of Swans !!! ... and also an amazing meeting of two Northern Harriers ...
This trip includes ...
Tundra Swan ... Great Blue Heron ... Great Egret ... Greater White-fronted Goose ... Sandhill Crane ... Cackling Geese ... Bufflehead ... American Kestrel ... Red-tailed Hawk ... Northern Harrier ... White-breasted Nuthatch ... Blacktail Deer ...
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Tundra Swans were on Rest Lake, providing images of adults, juveniles, banded P791, and Swan "behavior". A very beautiful bird. To see a "collection" of 22 images taken on this day ... Click Here.
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Tundra Swans.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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Tundra Swans.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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According to USGS Biologist Craig Ely, Tundra Swan P791 is a female who was banded on the Alaska Peninsula, south of King Salmon, on July 25, 2006 (57.6547 x 157.37287).
To see more of this bird ... Click Here.
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Tundra Swan P791.
Image on right enlarged 200%.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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Great Blue Heron.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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Great Egret.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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Greater White-fronted Geese.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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Greater White-fronted Geese.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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Sandhill Crane.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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Cackling Geese.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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Cackling Geese.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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Three Geese Flying.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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Six Geese Flying.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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Geese, size variations, various sub-species.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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"Where's Waldo ? ".
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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Buffleheads resting on Rest Lake.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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American Kestrel.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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American Kestrel harassing Red-tailed Hawk.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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Red-tailed Hawk.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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Red-tailed Hawk.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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Red-tailed Hawk with really red tail.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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Red-tailed Hawk with really red tail.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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Red-tailed Hawk, light undercarriage.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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Red-tailed Hawk, darker undercarriage.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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Northern Harrier.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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Northern Harrier.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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The following Northern Harrier images were taken on November 3, 2007. Harrier "A" (on left) was the initial agressor who landed next to Harrier "B". The two birds lowered their heads, circled each other 180 degrees, and then separated. Harrier "A" (who I kept photographing) walked away, all the while with head lowered.
For a series of 19 images of these two Northern Harriers --- CONTINUE.
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Two Northern Harriers, "A" (on left) and "B" (on right), 3:46 p.m.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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Harrier "A", 3:48 p.m.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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White-breasted Nuthatch.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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White-breasted Nuthatch.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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Blacktail Deer, buck, 4x4.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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Blacktail Deer, buck, 4x4.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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Blacktail Deer, buck, 4x4.
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, River "S" Unit.
Image taken, November 3, 2007.
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