Observations by juliejtennis

Downstream of waterfall. Was perched on a branch, then flew upstream. Like every other kingfisher I've encounter on the creek, it flew over the water until it got near me, went through the forest on the opposite side of the creek, then peeled back in over the water once it'd passed me. I think it gave me about a 50' berth.

I'm about 80% certain this was a red-tail hawk. My photos are not clear, the light was too bright. I've seen red-tail in this section in the past, and the characteristics I can gather from my photos match up.

Chum salmon continue to work their way upstream at Dell Creek. There are carcasses littering the banks, not many though. Late rains again resulted in another late run. What do the salmon do when they're waiting for their stream to become available?

Five immature common mergansers swimming/flapping/diving their way upstream on Dell Creek, approximately .16 miles from the Naselle River.

Unlike the mergansers I usually see on this creek, who are always alone, these five did not flush at my presence. They eyeballed me as they continued on their way.

My husband was hunting ducks on Willapa Bay this same day and mentioned lots of new ducks in the area, including some young mergansers who were not afraid of his presence. I wonder if these five were migrants out exploring the local creeks.