I
began the day heading to Yamhill County to try to relocate the
Prairie Falcon which Paul Sullivan reported recently, and after being
in the area for about 10 minutes found it about ¼ mile south from
his bearings. This species has somehow evaded me for 30 years in
Yamhill, so thanks for reporting it Paul. Farther along on Briedwell
Rd was a Red-shouldered Hawk. I meandered over to the Sheridan
Sewage Lagoons, which contained only the usual expected water birds.
En route back to Polk County I saw a good smattering of Red-tails,
Rough Leggeds, Harriers and Kestrels. Along Livermore Rd was a
Peregrine. At BSNWR, at the narrows was a Kite off to the north, a
nice find for there. I next drove to the lookout along Colville Rd
to scan the marsh. After seeing a few eagles standing on the ice I
decided to count them, and came up with 11 from that viewpoint. At
one point I watched an adult fly in and land on the ice with some
kind of food item, and shortly thereafter another (young) eagle flew
in. Either his rear talons did not catch on the ice or he was not
use to landing on the ice as his feet slid out from under him as he
tried to land, so he looked like he was sliding into 3rd
base, leaving some skid marks on his fanny. But he righted himself
in short order and stood up as if nothing embarrassing happened. I
next went over to the Farmer Rd marsh where there was another kite,
with a large rodent (vole?). I was hoping for a falcon slam, but,
as Jeff Fleischer says, it is the merlin who seems to prevent such.
No accipiters either, but 9 raptors is not too shabby of a count of
birds of prey in the area.
Bill Tice: Birding - The best excuse for getting outdoors, and avoiding chores.
