[obol] K-Falls, Jan. 1. '07

[Julie Van Moorhem]

Hi Folks,
Took some time for myself and set out to see what was around in the  
Klamath Falls area on Monday.  I birded Moore Park, Putnam's Point,  
the north end of Link river trail to the dam, Miller Island WMA, and  
drove south from Township Rd. to Stateline Rd. on the Oregon Drain  
Rd. and east on Stateline to Straits Drain and north back to Township  
Rd. on the Lower Klamath Refuge.

I started at the USFWS office on California Ave. hoping to find the  
California Towhee but it was not to be--WESTERN SCRUB JAY, GOLDEN- 
CROWNED SPARROW, LESSER GOLDFINCH, AMERICAN ROBIN, BEWICK'S WREN all  
put in an appearance.  I guess I'll have to go back for the Towhee.

Moore Park was pretty birdless--MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, BEWICK'S WREN,  
TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, WESTERN SCRUB JAY.  A flock of CROSSBILLS flew  
over several times, but I never saw them settle anywhere--they were  
quite loud.

Putnam Pt. and the north end of Link River had pretty much the same  
species of ducks:  BARROWS & COMMON GOLDENEYE, COMMON & HOODED  
MERGANSER, PIED-BILLED GREBE, RUDDY DUCK, GREATER YELLOWLEGS (4),  
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, GREAT BLUE HERON, CANADA GOOSE, NORTHERN  
SHOVELERS, BUFFLEHEAD, SONG SPARROW.

Veteran's Park and the south end of Link River--BELTED KINGFISHER,  
RING-BILLED GULL, adult HERRING GULL (eating what appeared to be a  
Ruddy Duck--this gull definitely fit the description given it by Pete  
Dunn in his Essential Field Guide Companion--"...expression is angry,  
crazed..."; the usual 200-300 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS decorated  
the trees along the banks;  LESSER SCAUP and the same species of  
ducks that were at the north end of the river.  On Lake Ewauna I saw  
a gull that I'm pretty sure was an immature GLAUCOUS-WINGED  GULL,  
but I'm not into gulls so I don't spend enough time studying them  
(that should be my project for this year!)--It was dark-eyed and dark  
billed, no black or dark brown on wingtips, tail, or anywhere, much  
the same very light tannish all over with light feather edgings, what  
I think were pinkish-looking legs but the light was not great for  
determining this.  I've looked in all my resources and that's what I  
think it is, but not being an expert I'm reluctant to call it.

Miller Island WMA--all water frozen over; ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, NORTHERN  
HARRIER, BALD EAGLE

HWY 97 South to Township Rd.  -- BALD EAGLES (seem to be coming in  
now), RED-TAILED HAWK, AMERICAN KESTREL.

Lower Klamath Refuge between Township and Stateline Rds.--ROUGH- 
LEGGED HAWK, NORTHERN HARRIER, RED-TAILED HAWK

On the California side of Stateline Rd. at the exit road for the  
refuge and opposite Straits Drain Rd.  a BLACK PHOEBE was flitting  
around the canal.

I didn't see any Ferruginous Hawks, Prairie Falcons or Golden  
Eagles.  I guess that just means I have to go look some more...darn!

Good birding in 2007 y'all,
Julie Van Moorhem
Klamath Falls


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