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Yellow Headed Blackbirds return/ Repost

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11 replies
Posted by Craig Strand on April 21, 2010 at 2:28 AM
Yellow Headed Blackbirds return/ Repost
The Yellow-headed Blackbirds have returned to the Ridgefield NWR. They have been back for about a week and can usually be found on cattails of South Quigley Lake (marker #3 on refuge maps.) They tend to frequent the stands of cattails in the center of the lake, but with patience and a little luck you can catch one up close in the cattails next to the road.
If your thinking of visiting the Ridgefield NWR, the automatic gate opens at 6am, and closes at 8pm. Some River "S" unit rules will change on May 1 when the Kiwa hiking trail loop will open, and along the 4.25 auto tour road you will be permitted to exit your car while staying on the roadway. For more information including the photo contest, visit the Friends of the Ridgefield NWR at, http://www.ridgefieldfriends.org/index.php
In addition, the new parking area and Gibbons Creek Nature trail at Steigerwald NWR next to Washougal on WA hwy 14 is now open. For more info. click http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/steigerwaldlake/

canon 7D
canon 600mm f4.L IS USM + 1.4TC
F/5.6 1/90 ISO 640
Posted by Ryan DesJardins on April 21, 2010 at 9:29 AM
Beautiful shot Craig, and thanks so much for the info. I plan on making a trip to Ridgefield shortly after I return from Newfoundland.
Posted by Marylynne Diggs on April 21, 2010 at 10:04 AM
Beautiful, Craig. If you can clone out that little white spot on the oof cat-tail, it would be even better. I love the pose.
Posted by Catherine Reilly on April 21, 2010 at 1:47 PM
what a cool looking bird. Thanks for all the info on the NWR's and for hikes!
Posted by Ned Fenimore on April 21, 2010 at 3:26 PM
Nice work as usual! I'd be tempted to lose that uninvolved cat tail (s) altogether..
Posted by Craig Strand on April 21, 2010 at 5:11 PM
REPOST, less the extra cattails... "Thanks Marylynne and Ned!"
Posted by wade pettitt on April 21, 2010 at 8:29 PM
Craig , great job with that newly sharpened cloning tool. :wink:
Posted by David Bostock on April 21, 2010 at 8:38 PM
Craig, I'll have to check out these birds. This is a beautiful image. I like the repost a lot!
Posted by Scott Smorra on April 22, 2010 at 1:00 AM
Very nice photo Craig. I really like the repost with the bird on the single cattail.
Posted by Tim Todd on April 22, 2010 at 11:42 AM
Wow! How long do they usually stay there? I would like to get over there one weekend. I am about 4 hours away. ( I did go to Ridgefield High for 9&10 grade).
Posted by Craig Strand on April 22, 2010 at 12:45 PM
Tim, the YHB's will be around thru summer, then heading south in the fall.
I hope you get to see a few.
Posted by Erik Lundh on April 22, 2010 at 3:41 PM
Nie shot Craig. I'm going to have to give Ridgefield a try one of these days.