Forty-six species were recorded by the participants during the half day birding at Reifel Refuge. Our first stop was the House Pond where the group had excellent looks of roosting Long-billed Dowitcher, juvenile Greater Yellowlegs and in amongst the dowitchers a couple of Lesser Yellowlegs. A small flock of Northern Shoveler were actively spinning to draw their food close to the surface. We were surprised to see five Greater White-fronted Geese roosting on a boom at Fuller Slough and with the roosting shorebirds on the log boom a lone Red-eared Slider was basking. Present were at the slough was a lone female Hooded Merganser and an early Snow Goose. En route to the southwest marsh high pitched calling geese alerted us to a flock of about 30 more White-fronts and a large group of Cackling Geese with Canada Geese offering good comparisons. All the regular dabbling ducks were observed at the refuge – Mallard, Gadwall, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal and American Wigeon. Along the west field dyke Purple Finches fed on cherries, a major food source during autumn and winter and a few Yellow-rumped Warblers were observed both in flight and foraging in the bushes. The burrows of Townsend’s Vole were noted the primary food source for most of our non-forest birds of prey. Northern Harriers cruised low over the marsh and the explosive grunt call of a Virginia Rail was heard. A group of Killdeer flushed from the West Field alerted us to a Peregrine Falcon chasing shorebirds ruining our chances of finding any new species. Towards the north end of the west dyke a small group of Barn Swallows flew over. Heading back to the vehicles a group of Red-winged Blackbirds flew in hoping for handouts and a Belted Kingfisher was heard and seen by the group to complete another excellent outing.