[obol] Say's Phoebe, 6 Horned Larks east of Salem 3/8/15
- From: Roy Gerig <roygerig@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "joel.geier@xxxxxxxx" <joel.geier@xxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2015 13:07:35 -0700
I looked for Horned Larks in two places this morning. I found 6 HORNED LARKS
where I've looked before because it looks perfect but without success until
today, along Anderson Road SE. Anderson Road is a gravel road, about par for
the course with Horned Larks. It runs east at 11000 Waldo Hills Dr. (3-4 miles
north of Aumsville). The Larks were 0.5 miles down Anderson, about 0.2 miles
after the first turn, where it was sprayed a few months ago I believe in prep
for a new planting of perennial grass, and it looks like seed may have just
been drilled. The larks were in the newly tilled field, and one flew across
the road into an established grass seed field while I was there.
Now this is the fun part: During the past couple of winters I've periodically
checked on the small flock of Horned Larks along 117th St (3 miles north of
Anderson Rd). I've shown the site to more than 2 local birders and each time
along the way I've pointed out an old barbed wire fence around a narrow pasture
that runs parallel to 119th St, before it jogs over as Kuenzi and becomes
117th, and I've said that I expect to see a SAY'S PHOEBE on that fence someday.
Today was that day, a SAPH was right where I've pointed to several times in
the past 2 years.
After the SAPH I walked 117th today, no HOLAs were around for the first time
this winter. Maybe they were the ones I saw along Anderson Rd., it is between
seasons and some birds are moving around. On the way back an hour later, there
were 60 AMERICAN PIPITS where the SAPH was earlier but no SAPH. I did refind it
around the intersection of State St and 117th, 0.2 mi south.
To get there go east out of Salem along State St about 10 miles until you come
to 119th, a gravel road that crosses State. The usual spot for Larks and
today's Say's Phoebe is go north just past a small cemetery. The spot for
today's Larks is go south 2 miles until you see Anderson Rd (gravel) going
east.
As Yogi Berra probably said, when you come to a fork in the road, take it.
Roy Gerig, Salem OR
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- » [obol] Say's Phoebe, 6 Horned Larks east of Salem 3/8/15 - Roy Gerig
