[obol] Scappoose area

[Bobbett Pierce]

I drove two miles west of Scappoose at lunchtime today, on a road that 
climbs gently to give a good view to the southeast (because of clearcuts).  
Can see Portland from there, also surrounding hills of rural homes and tree 
farms, the Columbia River and Multnomah Channels, and Scappoose environs.  
At the gated logging road where I stopped there was the usual trash, tires, 
and elk bones/hair.  It's a Columbia County thing to decorate gated logging 
roads this way.  Scotch broom is competing fiercely with young D. firs that 
have been planted.  Deer tracks in the logging road.  Birds: five soaring 
TURKEY VULTURES, two very close.  Heard, then spotted a GRAY JAY at the top 
of the taller firs left.  Usually I have to drive miles farther west into 
the coast range to see gray jays.  A handful of V-G SWALLOWS overhead.  A 
few other common birds around, as well.  Quite a few trees, 20-30 years old, 
were uprooted and blown over next to the clearcut.  On one of the downed 
trunks were heaps of grand fir cone remains -- probably the work of a 
chickaree.
I'm never sure if I've had a good or bad time when on one of these little 
treks -- kind of a downer to see human handiwork in the hills, but nice to 
get outside in a rural setting.   Home: among the regulars, I still have two 
VARIED THRUSHES, and 20 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS yesterday.  A couple of 
dusky-footed woodrats, too, that the birds accept more readily than I do.  
Lona Pierce, Warren

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