[obol] Big movements of Turkey Vultures and Steller's Jays, Coffin Butte, Benton Co.

[Joel Geier]

Hello folks,

Coffin Butte (Benton Co. north of Corvallis) was fairly active this 
morning with birds that are expected here in winter months (including 
three HUTTON'S VIREOS along with the kinglets). However for the first 
time this fall, I did not find any lingering neotropical migrants, 
except a few VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS overhead.

Some Corvallis birders have been reporting signs of the annual STELLER'S 
JAY movement into neighborhoods that are mainly scrub-jay territory in 
summer. Knowing this did not quite prepare me for the sight of 28 
Steller's Jays moving in a loose flock from tree to tree, along the 
crest of the butte, in clumps of 3 to 7 at a time.

As I came down the trail, suddenly 28 VULTURES appeared in two clumps, 
one group rising as a "kettle" on strong thermals over the central part 
of the butte, while the other group was careening low over the trees on 
the NE end of the butte, back and forth over the trees as they headed 
for the same spot. By the time the second group started to ramp up the 
thermals, another big group came into sight over the NE end of the 
group, with a few singles straggling in behind.

This went on for about ten minutes, during which time I counted a total 
71 TURKEY VULTURES. As each clump of vultures spiraled up to nearly 
double the height of the butte (I'd guess 300-350 ft over the adjoining 
valley), they would stream off in single file toward Tampico Ridge, 
which is the next ridge to the south.

It looked like the vultures were streaming toward Coffin Butte from the 
NE, perhaps coming from the Salem Hills.

Good birding,
Joel

--
Joel Geier
jgeier at attglobal.net