[birding] Prairie overlook Finley NWR

[Steve Seibel]

These days I have so much fun enroute to, and at, the prairie overlook at
Finley NWR that I don't even go to the any of the marshes and ponds.  I'm
impressed by how many Rough-legged hawks are around, especially
dark-morphs-- this afternoon I saw virtually equal numbers of light and dark
morph RL's.  RL sightings included one just south of the airport south of
Llewellyn road, one along 99W between Llewellyn and Greenbury rd, two south
of Refuge road coming into Finley north entrance from 99W, and at least
three different individuals from the Prairie overlook.  The very dark
individuals are the most striking, but maybe the most "interesting" is the
one that has plumage that seems very intermediate between light and dark
morph, all the usual features of the typical juvenile plumage are visible on
the underside but muted, like washed over with additional dark coloration.
The top is sort of dark-creamy-coffee-colored with hints of of the usual
light areas on the primaries plus some additional light areas that resemble
the scapular markings often seen on Red-tails.  I think I've mentioned this
bird before, today was not the first sighting.  Lots of hovering action
today, and the north wind meant that they were facing toward me for once.

Other Prairie overlook raptors included a juv Red-shouldered-hawk (yet
again) just as I was leaving, at least 2 kites, an adult Bald eagle and a
more distant unknown Bald eagle, an immature Red-tailed hawk, 2 kestrels, a
juv Sharp-shinned hawk,  and a good handful of Harriers.

PS many Bald eagles of various ages continue to frequent Peterson Butte
about 4 miles SW of Lebanon.  Typically I see 4 to 6 on any given visit.

Steve Seibel, Corvallis 541-990-4633
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