[obol] Linn County birds

[Mark Nikas]

I spent the day birding around SW Linn County. One of my goals was to census
the Tundra Swan flocks in the area. The final tally was 1214 TUNDRA SWANS.
One was blue collared and originated on the north Alaska Peninsula. Small
numbers of GR WH FRONTED GEESE were with 3 of the swan flocks. I see this
often. They seem to prefer the company of swans over other kinds of geese.
One EURASIAN WIGEON was with a flock of 600 Americans at the Diamond Hill
wetlands east of I5.  8 CANVASBACKS were on the Seven Mile Ln. sewage ponds
north of Brownsville.

BALD EAGLES were widespread with a total of 29 seen. One was tending to a
nest along the Willamette River north of Peoria. A PRAIRIE FALCON was on
Cartney Rd. south of Harrisburg. This was the 5th PRFA I've seen in the
county this winter. Only 1 ROUGH LEGGED HAWK was seen which is about par for
this winter. They're around but scarce. One Redtail was sitting on a nest at
the Gap Rd. rice ponds.

Large flocks of MEW GULLS are not uncommon in winter but the 1500+ seen in 4
or 5 flocks was by far the most I've found in a day. Small numbers of Cals,
Herring,  Glaucous Winged and Thayers were scattered about. Hardly any were
with the Mew flocks though. Amazingly not a single Ring-billed Gull was
seen. No Western Gulls were seen either. They would not be expected most
winters but this one seems exceptional for them up and down the valley with
many reported on OBOL. I've seen at least 3 pure looking Westerns this
winter in Linn County. I'd seen 1 in the previous 12 years.

Another notable scarcity was just one Killdeer seen. Early January I had
more than 500 in the grass fields. Robins have taken their place. TREE
SWALLOWS were widespread. An odd site was a flock of 25 circling about the
top of a large Fir tree. There may have been some kind of hatch up there but
I couldn't see it. One VIOLET GREEN SWALLOW was seen.


Mark Nikas