[obol] Lunch With The Birds

[Cliff & Joanne Weber]

OBOL, hello!

I kind of suspect LWTB caught a few of you by surprise this year because
nobody but us three regulars showed up for opening day.

Anyway, the action was about what we expected for a pre-migration Summer's
day. Just a few birds. (I almost padded the list with a Dragon Fly but
figured it wouldn't be good form to do so).

A few Swallow species were milling way out at one end of the big lake. Too
far to identify. One Cedar Waxwing, two Northern Flickers, beaucoup American
Goldfinches, one Killdeer, one Turkey Vulture, one lone puddle-duck; the air
was too wiggly out there to identify it. (No, it wasn't Beatrix Potter's
Jemima; she's white, ours was brown.) two Great Blue Herons, one Mourning
Dove, and two urban Rock Doves way out by the old nest grove.

The reason I reported the (are they called Rock Doves anymore?) is because
we've seen that pair out there before. One is total white and they are wont
to do a lot of milling like Swallows before either settling down, or
departing the area. Today the brown one landed in shallow water along the
shore, leading us to wonder if maybe they might want to convert to the clean
living of waterfowl and leave their old life of sin behind.

Where? ... City of Hillsboro, at the intersection of SW Wood Street and Hwy
219. Thomas Bros Portland street guide page 593, square B6. Wild In The
City, pages 159-160. Exploring The Tualatin River Basin, pages 19-20.

For those with good legs (I prefer a cab) Jackson Bottom's north observation
deck is about a 3/4 to 7/8ths mile stroll from the transit center in
Hillsboro.

Google satellite image: http://tinyurl.com/ypd665

Wheelchair Friendly? ... Yes. Excellent off-street parking, and really easy
wheeler and walker access to a roofed and hand-railed deck. Some bench-style
seating inside the shelter, and more outside along a sidewalk.

Restrooms? ... Good ones available a mile south at Jackson's spiffy
education center. McDonald's is closer, at the corner of Baseline and 1st
Ave.

Gourmet Coffee? ... Nearest Starbucks is at the corner of Main and 1st Ave.
Convenient parking is competitive.

Information about Jackson Bottom Wetlands' programs and services is
available online at www.jacksonbottom.org

Cliff & Joanne Weber
Beaverton (Rock Creek area)