[birding] Finley 4/18

[Lisa Millbank]

It was a nice day to head down to Finley on the bikes.  We pedaled along 99W to Bruce Rd.  Despite the traffic noise, we heard our first CHIPPING SPARROW and many HORNED LARKS were singing in the fields.  BARN SWALLOWS have arrived as well.     
Lots and lots of BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS sang in all the wooded areas.  At Pigeon Butte we were really surprised by a calling MOUNTAIN QUAIL.  I expected to hear a Ruffed Grouse because we have heard one "drumming" on Maple Knoll every spring for the past 5 years.  Mr. Mountain Quail was on the NW side of the hill, calling enthusiastically.  He might be lonely, maybe someone else has heard Mountain Quail at Finley, but we never have.  I suppose he came down out of the Coast Range hills along the ridgeline of Maple Knoll. 
GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS were at McFadden Marsh, along with many pretty CINNAMON TEALS.  There was a big flock of Cacklers in the fields south of Pigeon Butte and a number of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were hanging around there.  One SNOW GOOSE stood out in the bright sunshine, but we never did pick out a Red-breasted Goose.  At the same time we were watching the geese, many Horned Larks sang in the field south of Bruce Rd., but we never could spot one.  There are not many around now, but we did see one adult BALD EAGLE. 
On the way home there was a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE near Llewellyn Rd (my first one).   

For the mammals, bugs, plants, and reptiles click http://groups.google.com/group/mid-valley-nature/browse_thread/thread/42a79fcdb208da65

Lisa
www.neighborhood-naturalist.com
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