[obol] American Bittern/Caspian Tern/Columbia County

[John Gatchet]

I birded Columbia County yesterday and had a nice look at a flyby
CASPIAN TERN at the Marina about a mile and half past the viewing
platform on Sauvie Island.  
 
Along the Crown Zellerback trail near the airport in Scappoose Bottoms I
got a great look at an AMERICAN BITTERN.  The weather was not the best,
but I added four species to my year list.
 
The CANVASBACK (4) observed from the viewing platform on Sauvie Island
was a new species for the year.  I saw 5 REDHEAD there as well.  A
PEREGRINE FALCON flew close and directly in front of the viewing
platform. 
 
A male MERLIN was along Rentenaar Road.  It was not the dark race
suckleyi and was probably a columbarius.
 
I am now at 138 species for the year in the county.  VIOLET-GREEN
SWALLOW were everywhere searching for food and it was a major movement
for this species.  There were many TREE SWALLOW as well, but not nearly
the hordes as there were of Violet-green Swallows.  In Scappoose Bottoms
I checked out the gull flock and the bird I thought might have been a
Glaucous Gull there was probably not.  I believe I got a closer look at
the same bird.  
 
There were 17 GREAT EGRET in one spot and 14 in another in Scappoose
Bottoms.  
 
John F. Gatchet
Gresham, OR    
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