[birding] a great day at Finley on Sunday

[Susan Hatlevig]

Although it was dark and cloudy on Sunday we ventured out to Finley.  We
spied a Western Meadowlark just as we were coming in from Finley Road-what a
nice welcome song he gave us.  He was sitting on a power line.  We stopped
at the Prairie Overlook and we were privy to a male Northern Harrier
cruising the field-coming very, very close!  I could see his eyes looking
down while hunting.  Just beautiful.  A ways down we found the field of
Greater Yellowlegs-saw about 17 and we also spotted a pair of W. bluebirds
on the tree with the bluebird box.  A pair of kestrels landed on the tree
and then mated!  That was way cool to see.  A nice treat when we first came
to the water area from the road was a pair of wood ducks.  We took the
boardwalk down to the marsh and among the usual were lots of yellow rumped
warblers, yellow throats, white-crowned sparrows, towhees, etc.  But, first
of year for us were 3 osprey-two of them doing lots of hovering and one
calling. Having the scope gave us a great view.  While they were busy at
least 2 immature bald eagles came in and one chased an osprey that had a
fish in its talons.  Again, the eagle came very low and gave us a wonderful
show flying right over.  Later we saw an adult.  The pond was busily being
scoured by what I think were tree swallows and in among the waterfowl were
dc cormorants, about 80 dunlin, green-winged teal, ring-necks, widgeons,
shovelers, mallards, and the like. Very nice time.  Susie in Corvallis

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