[obol] Lane Ruff, hawks

[Vjera Thompson]

OBOL,

As Alan posted, I had what I believe was a RUFF today.  Eddie and I went
out and drove around north of the airport for a couple hours.  We saw a
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK at Alvadore Road & Franklin Road.  We also saw several
RED-TAILS, N. HARRIERS, & KESTRELS.  There was a large flock of CACKLING
GEESE south of Franklin Road and we also had a large flock over Washburne
Lane.

When we were working north on Washburne Lane from High Pass Road, we
stopped to look at some SNIPE in an open muddy area near where the
Loggerhead Shrike was a couple years ago.  It was two telephone poles
north of the Mile 1 sign, on the west side of the road.

There were a couple dozen Snipe and half a dozen DOWITCHERS.  I quickly
noticed a large shorebird with them, with a small head and large plump
body.  Legs were longer then the Dowitchers and orange-ish yellow.  Bill
was shorter than either the Snipe or Dowitchers and fairly stubby and
dark.  It was pale buffy on the breast and belly, with the back rich
brown, gold, and black, and with long tertials.  We saw it fly twice, and
both times saw a v-shaped white rump patch.  We watched it for 10-15
minutes until it flew west further into the wet area.

A co-worker who knows his birds mentioned to me that he had a BLACK PHOEBE
somewhere near Coburg yesterday.

Good birding,
Vjera & Eddie Thompson
vireogirl at yahoo.com
Eugene, OR

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