[birding] Bobcat & Pygmy-Owl in Dunn State Forest

[Joel Geier]

Hello folks,

After seeing a pale gull (probably a young Glaucous-winged or similar)
go flying north past our place around mid-afternoon, I set off with
Heidi (border collie/Aussie mix) to check the landfill but found no
gulls there, or anything else much of note.

So we kept walking west on Coffin Butte Rd., over the abandoned Soap
Creek bridge and then south to Tampico to reach Gate 400 of Dunn State
Forest. Taking the road that runs off toward the west just above the
gate, we came out into a reprod area. There Heidi smelled something
along the edge of the road and while she investigated, I looked up to
see the tail end of a BOBCAT bounding away, no more than 30 yards up
slope.

The same area had a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL, a calling PILEATED WOODPECKER,
and dozens of PURPLE FINCHES along with a WRENTIT, BUSHTITS, and
assorted wrens, chickadees and sparrows. I was hoping for crossbills or
grouse but no such luck today.

According to signs at the trailhead, that part of Dunn Forest has a
"walk-in hunt" (elk hunt, I guess) that starts tomorrow and runs all
through the month of December. So it may be a little less quiet after
today.

Happy birding,
Joel

--
Joel Geier
Camp Adair area north of Corvallis