[birding] Raptor Run, Central Benton Co.

[Marcia F. Cutler]

I was joined today by Jan Landau, Marie Flamme and Kate Mathews for the raptor run.  Unlike previous runs, we did this one in the afternoon.  The weather was very springlike and quite a few raptors were enjoying the thermals, probably the main difference from doing this route in the morning.  Large flocks of AMERICAN ROBINS were everywhere, WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were on Kiger Island, by Corvallis Airport and at the prairie overlook at Finley NWR, singing in the afternoon sunshine.  We saw 3 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES east of the refuge along Lakeside.

Here are the results:

Red-tailed Hawk - 41
American Kestrel - 26
Northern Harrier - 13
Bald Eagle - 1 adult, 3 immature
Red-shouldered Hawk - 1
White-tailed Kite - 1
Raptor, sp. 1

Total time - 5 hours, miles - 61.

Marcia F. Cutler
Corvallis OR