[birding] Baskett Slough yesterday

[Joel Geier]

Hi folks,

Yesterday I went to Baskett Slough with a small group of folks who were
attending the Governor's Conference on Tourism in Salem, and were
interested to find out what this birding stuff is all about. Dawn
Rasmussen from Portland helped out as van driver and bird spotter.

It was a beautiful sunny morning and we were not out to set any birding
records, but we did enjoy splendid views of HOODED MERGANSER,
BUFFLEHEAD, LESSER SCAUP and the like. A couple of OSPREYS fishing over
the pond north of Coville Rd. provided much of the drama by hauling fish
out of the water and eating them while perched on the utility-line
poles. A pair of CANADA GEESE with a brood of goslings flapped their
wings at one of the Ospreys when it started fishing too close.

Dawn spotted a SNOW GOOSE in a big flock of cacklers east of the
overlook along Hwy 22, and later on we found another one along Coville
Rd.

The only shorebird we could find was a GREATER YELLOWLEGS. We had
beautiful views of the bird reflected in the calm water as it foraged in
the shallows. We had a good look and listen to a low-flying AMERICAN
PIPIT in the same area, and had good looks at SAVANNAH SPARROWS. COMMON
YELLOWTHROATS were singing everywhere, but we mostly saw them as yellow
streaks chasing each other.

We also enjoyed excellent views of two pairs of STREAKED HORNED LARKS,
the first pair inside the refuge on the south flank of Baskett Butte,
then another pair east of the refuge, taking a dust bath in the middle
of Coville Rd. Anytime you can see half of a percent of the total world
population of a particular type of bird, you have to count it as a good
day in the field.

We walked a little way up Baskett Butte and were rewarded with SPOTTED
TOWHEE, BEWICK'S WREN, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET.
A mixed flock of Audubon's and Black-throated Grays foraging in the oaks
off the trail were a little too far off and too flitty for most people
to get good views of.

Happy birding,
Joel

--
Joel Geier
Camp Adair area north of Corvallis