[obol] Vultures, Merlin etc.

[Joel Geier]

Hello folks,

On the vulture thread, I only saw two today but just had an 8- and 9-yr 
old (one ours, one the kid from next door) come running in to say they 
saw "20 or 22" (I think they meant LOTS OF) TURKEY VULTURES soaring 
south along the ridge out back (northern Benton County).

Now they're in here with a box of colored pencils, drawing PAINTED 
REDSTARTS and ROADRUNNERS freehand, looking at my Natl Geographic 3rd 
edition.

Also ... today a few Corvallis birders (Rich Armstrong, Dave Mellinger, 
Marcia Cutler, Julie Gibson, Paula Vanderheul, & me) were over at the 
proposed new Luckiamute State Natural Area (which will include 
Luckiamute Landing in Polk Co. and Vanderpool Tract in Benton Co., plus 
two smaller parcels). The aim was mainly to discuss OPRD's plans for 
this land and possibilities for some local conservation activism, but we 
saw a few notable birds.

Dave Mellinger spotted a perched raptor which we decided was a MERLIN, 
especially once we saw it fly. Rich Armstrong spotted a BARN SWALLOW. 
Julie Gibson saw an AMERICAN COOT on the Western Pond Turtle pond, the 
first one I've ever seen in the proposed natural area.

Two late-ish COMMON YELLOWTHROATS were found, I forget who saw which. I 
saw one flying Dendroica warbler which looked like a BLACK-THROATED GRAY 
WARBLER; some chance it was a pale Townsend's but it would have been 
weird habitat for one. We tried a bit for but could not find the 
Tennessee Warbler that Doug Robinson found here a couple weeks ago.

Good birding,
Joel

--
Joel Geier
jgeier at attglobal.net