[birding] Lesser Yellowlegs at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, Benton Co.

[Joel Geier]

Hello folks,

During a lunchtime walk today, I saw a LESSER YELLOWLEGS in the company
of three Greater Yellowlegs, on the Canal Pond at E.E. Wilson Wildlife
Area. 

My copy of /Birds of Oregon: A General Reference/ is packed away but I
think that Nov 17th is a rather late date for the species. I'd nearly
given up on the possibility to add this one to my "motorless" year list,
but there it was -- in place of the Red Phalarope that I was hoping for
but didn't find.

The usual wintertime contingent of sparrows is now thick in the wildlife
area. When the sun came out after some showers, I heard a WHITE-THROATED
SPARROW sing briefly, then enjoyed watching five different sparroids
bathing in a single mud puddle: SPOTTED TOWHEE, SONG SPARROW, LINCOLN'S
SPARROW, SOOTY FOX SPARROW, and OREGON JUNCO. The Lincoln's Sparrow was
more nervous than the rest, and barely got wet before it dashed back to
cover.

It's interesting how, after hunkering down in the rain for hours,
sparrows will head straight to the nearest puddle to bathe as soon as
the rain lets up.

Happy birding,
Joel

--
Joel Geier
Camp Adair area north of Corvallis