[obol] Baskett Slough Clark's Grebe, Say's Phoebe, Brant, 4/1/07

[Roy Gerig]

Baskett Slough NWR refuge opened today so I did some walking around, 
spending 2-3 hours there.  It was cool, with the sun breaking through some 
of the time.  Birding was good.

A SAY'S PHOEBE was along Highway 99 just north of the bridge over Baskett 
Slough, north of Rickreall.  A bit later, in a flock of 2000 CACKLING GEESE 
there was 1 BRANT, 1/2 mile southwest of the Narrows, Coville Road.

At least 2 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were singing not far from the parking lot 
at Coville Rd.

I had very good looks at a CLARK'S GREBE on Morgan Lake, eye entirely in 
white, bright yellow-orange bill, and pale (compared to Western Grebe) back. 
  Also around Morgan Lake were my first of the year COMMON YELLOWTHROATS 
(everywhere) and CLIFF SWALLOWS (several seen) along with many VIOLET-GREEN  
and TREE SWALLOWS, and one BARN SWALLOW.

Other birds of 50-55 species seen included 2 LESSER GOLDFINCHES, not so 
common away from West Salem in Polk in my experience, and a few GREATER 
SCAUP with some LESSERS on Morgan Lake, 20-25 GADWALL on the back side of 
the lake, and a few recently arrived CINNAMON TEAL.

An OSPREY was around, as well as a the usual young BALD EAGLES.  I saw 2 
bright male 'MYRTLE' YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS around the parking lot for 
Morgan Lake, and a LINCOLN'S SPARROW.
A PURPLE FINCH was singing.

Then I went to Portland to watch my nephew Greg Plater score a game-high 15 
points in the NW Shootout, an all star game between Oregon and Washington 
state all-star basketball players at the Chiles Center.  He easily outplayed 
his defender (I forgot his name) who will be a UW Husky next year, and who 
already plays dirty and fouled out with 6 fouls, including a T, with 10 
minutes to go...

Roy Gerig, Salem OR

_________________________________________________________________
5.5%* 30 year fixed mortgage rate. Good credit refinance. Up to 5 free 
quotes - *Terms 
https://www2.nextag.com/goto.jsp?product=100000035&url=%2fst.jsp&tm=y&search=mortgage_text_links_88_h2a5d&s=4056&p=5117&disc=y&vers=910