[obol] Molalla Sewer Plant Adieu

[Al Ahlgrim]

Molalla Sewer Plant Adieu for now.

I made a final walk around the Molalla Sewer Plant lagoons this morning.  As Doug Robberson reported on OBOL a few days ago the plant will be closed to birders starting tomorrow until the end of October.  Otis, a plant manager, told me that the parking area used by birders and the ramp up to the dike will be removed in order to expand the plant.  The contract calls for work to be complete by the end of October 2007, but may run into November.  When it is complete, birders will be able to access the ponds by driving between the plant and dike to a new ramp at the northeast corner of the first pond.  I was asked to re-post the information so that someone doesn't make a long drive to be turned away.

Retirement is grand and I have visited the lagoons every week or two over the past few months and below are some of the WINTER sightings:

Full time species:
BUFFLEHEAD, NORTHERN SHOVELER, RUDDY DUCK, AMERICAN COOT, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN WIGEON, KILLDEER, MEW GULLS AND CANADA GOOSE.  Also, three DUNLIN and a WESTERN SANDPIPER teamed up and stayed the winter.

Intermittent species not seen every visit:
Greater and Lesser SCAUP, LEAST SANDPIPER, RED-TAILED HAWK, and common song birds.

One time sightings:
A pair of PINTAILS, four CANVASBACKS, a pair of REDHEAD Ducks, a pair of EGYPTIAN GEESE, COMMON MERGANSER, an EARED GREBE,  and two LAPLAND LONGSPURS. 

Today a pair of GREATER YELLOW-LEGS were on the bank of the outer pond and a large flock of DUNLIN performed a spectacular flight show.

The crew at the plant has been very amicable to birders for years and some have even become interested in identifying the birds thanks in large part to the effort of the late Dr. Elmer Specht.

Al Ahlgrim 
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