... It all started with a couple of RUFFED GROUSE in the Coast Range south
of Alsea Falls (Southern Benton/Northern Linn Counties), culminated with
the RUFF at Ankeny NWR, and faded out with a distant ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
south of Buena Vista Road. :)
The RUFF was not very cooperative. When Oscar and I first arrived at Ankeny
around 2:30 pm, we learned that it had flown into the tall grass on the
west side of the railroad tracks, where it had disappeared. We were joined
by a few other birders (among them Jay Withgott, Bill Tice and Jeff
Harding), and we eventually managed to catch brief but diagnostic looks at
the bird as it sneaked in and out of the grass. Eventually, the Ruff and
the small group of Greater Yellowlegs it was associated with flew closer to
the railroad tracks and out in the open. The lighting was very poor, but we
managed decent looks (and a few very poor photos, see link below). When we
finally got back to our car (parked in the pullout off Buena Vista Rd.),
the yellowlegs and Ruff had returned to the small pond directly in front of
the parking area! Alas, before I could get better photos, the whole group
flew off again ....
Earlier in the morning, Oscar and I visited the Coast Range south of Alsea
Falls. Besides the two RUFFED GROUSE, we also encountered a couple of
MOUNTAIN QUAIL (BLM Rd. 15-7-10.1 in northernmost Lane Co.) and a very
confiding NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL on Prairie Mountain.
Link to a Flickr album with three blurry Ruff photos as well as shots of
the Pygmy-Owl and Ruffed Grouse:
https://flic.kr/s/aHskkjqtGo
Happy Fall Birding!
Hendrik & Oscar
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__________________________
Hendrik G. Herlyn
Corvallis, OR
*"Nature is not a place to visit. It is home." -- Gary Snyder*
