[obol] Boreal Owl revisited & Umatilla county sightings

[Paul T. Sullivan]

OBOL:

This past Friday night again found us up on Skyline Rd. (AKA USFS Rd. 64, 
southeast of Walla Walla, in the NW corner of Wallowa county, OR) 
overlooking the Wenaha basin.  The sky became full of stars as the evening 
went on.  The tape called ""BOOP, OOP, OOP, OOP, OOP!" and we listened. 
Then we heard two down-slurred responses: "teuwp!, teuwp!"  On Saturday 
night we had even more stars.  A couple participants in the group heard some 
distant toots.

On Saturday in the lowlands of Umatilla county we found LESSER GOLDIFINCH 
along Spring Hollow Rd., SE of Adams.  That was a first sighting for me in 
Umatilla county.

When we reached Cold Springs NWR we hit the jackpot:  SNOW GEESE, GTR 
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, Great Blue Heron, GREAT EGRET (county first for me), a 
variety of 8 kinds of ducks, 20 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, 
200 LONGBILLED DOWITCHERS, VARIED THRUSH.

On Sunday we again got glimpses of Eurasian Collared-doves in Touchet, WA.

Back in Oregon, we stopped at McNary Beach, above McNary dam and hit another 
jackpot: HORNED, EARED, RED-NECKED, WESTERN and CLARK'S GREBES, 2 SURF 
SCOTERS, 2 RED-HEADS.  In the wildlife area below the dam we saw the usual 
B-C NIGHT HERONS and WOOD DUCKS.  A VIRGINIA RAIL called voluntarily.  We 
again found Golden-crowned Sparrow.

The weather and fall colors were super.

Good birding, everyone,

Paul T. Sullivan
Audubon Birding Weekends
(503) 646-7889
http://www.audubonportland.org/trips_classes_camps/adult_programs/birding_weekendsfolder/index_html