[birding] Camp Adair Saw-whet Owl etc.

[Joel Geier]

Hi folks,

In my last chance to do "motorless birding" for at least a week, I
walked up to Toketie Marsh this afternoon hoping to find the Greater
Scaup that was seen by the ASC field trip yesterday. I only saw a couple
of LESSER SCAUP swimming with the Ring-necked Ducks, but as I was
scoping these an immature DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT swam into view.
Surprisingly this was the first one I've seen since I got on this
petroleum-deficient kick.

I then checked out a patch of conifers on the way back, hoping to find
some Chestnut-backed Chickadees. I noticed a large owl pellet which
looked like it came from a Great Horned Owl or Barn Owl, so I started
looking up. I was surprised to see a small bird flutter between the
trees, in the dim light below the canopy. It didn't quite look like a
Varied Thrush so I followed along. It flushed a couple more times, each
time just flying about 20-30 feet between trees. 

I finally realized (from the general shape and type of flight) that I
was looking at a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL. It was too small to be a Western
Screech-Owl, and the manner of flight looked like other Saw-whet Owls
that I've encountered. I never did spot the owl while it was perched,
even though I had its position pegged within a few feet a couple of
times -- impressive camouflage in that gloomy habitat! After the third
time I saw it fly, I figured that I'd disturbed it enough so I let it
be.

I never did find any Chestnut-backed Chickadees, either by sight or by
ear!

Happy birding,
Joel

--
Joel Geier
Camp Adair area north of Corvallis