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the Coburg Hills.  Hopes of encountering northern finches at higher 
elevations turned out to be an Irons pipe dream.  We did find a single Gray 
Jay and got to hear and see Winter Wrens, Red-breasted Nuthatch, 
Golden-crowned Kinglet and Chestnut Backed Chickadees.

We continued north along the ridge and dropped down into the Calapooya 
drainage just e. of Crawfordsville.  A Merlin was in "downtown" 
Crawfordsville.  We then stopped at the Gap Rd. rice ponds just south of 
Brownsville.  The brushy hillside along the south side of the ponds was 
loaded with birds, mostly sparrows, chickadees, juncos and towhees.  We did 
have two Wrentits here.  I have birded this site many times and never 
encountered Wrentits previously.  On the ponds there was a large swarm of 
Long-billed Dowitchers (about 200), about 60 Green-winged Teal and about 30 
N. Pintails.

On the way home we cruised Lake Creek and Center School Rds.  There was a 
scattered group of about 150 Tundra Swans at the intersection of Lake Creek 
and Ranch Rd.

We had a total of 4 Bald Eagles along the entire loop.

Observers included:  Dennis Arendt, Frank Caruso (visiting from Mass.), Don 
DeWitt,George Grier, Dave Irons, Sylvia Maulding, Roger Robb, Don Schrouder 
and Paul Sherrell.

Dave Irons
Eugene, OR