I do not recall better opportunities to see Horned Larks in the Willamette
Valley than right now on Davis Road. Thirty birds are evenly distributed on
bare ground right next to the road, immediately south of the big round
post. Raptors of any kind were not to be seen initially. Then l saw a Buteo
hovering very high, which dove and caught a mouse. At 60x l could not ID it
until an adult Redtail appeared and tried to steal the prey. Both were
adult Redtails, straight off the cover of Sibley. Buteo no1 kept its lunch
and the failed kleptoparasite went aloft and began hovering. The steady
north wind means everyone but harriers are hovering today.
I have been unimpressed with raptor numbers and variety in Linn
County this winter. The raptors at Davis Road are so far away as to almost
be out of scope range. None are near the road although the habitat appears
identical for the whole mile it stretches east to the tree line. Driving
east on Green Valley or Bellplain Roads never confers any advantage either,
but l never quit trying. Dave and Shawneen had ideal light on Sunday night.
It was 72 degrees when l gave up. Looking for Snow Bunting under such
circumstances probably isn't illegal, but certainly immoral and fattening.
I decided to see how accessible the Rosyfinch habitat on Marys Peak is just
now.
It was 77 along Greasy Creek, 52 here where sensible cars have to
quit. Just short of the false summit before Connor's Camp Saddle. Snow off
the pavement is still a foot deep.
