[obol] 20 Lazuli Buntings, 8 Lark Sparrows

[Paul T. Sullivan]

OBOL:

Carol Karlen & I did the Wheeler county North American Migration County on 
Sunday, May 11.  The weather was 50% clouds and temperatures from 40-63.  A 
stiff breeze came up mod-morning and lasted the rest of the day.

Imagine a fence row near Tickenham with 20 LAZULI BUNTINGS flitting from 
grass to fence and into the air.  Toss in a bright LARK SPARROW, with 
painted hills behind.  Later imagine a fence with 8 LARK SPARROWS in a row. 
Imagine a field with 90 RAVENS and 10 RED-TAILED HAWKS.

Toss in a FERRUGINOUS HAWK, adult BALD EAGLE, and 3 GOLDEN EAGLES.  Add a 
cooperative NASHVILLE WARBLER, a calling Y-0b. CHAT, and 2 BARN OWLS peeking 
out of a cliff.    Sprinkle around 53 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, 29 PRONGHORNS, 
68 MOURNING DOVES, and 34 WESTERN KINGBIRDS (both these latter species down 
from last year.)  Set this in canyon and rimrock scenery, with Ponderosa 
pine and juniper and sage.

Start the day with 11 WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS at Clarno and end with 200 
VAUX'S SWIFTS circling over Spray.   End the day with GREAT HORNED OWLS 
hooting outside your room.

We tallied 93 species.  We didn't see the EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES in Fossil 
until the next morning.

Good birding, everyone,

Paul T. Sullivan