Before launching into grebes, this morning I spotted a Kestral on the phone
lines at the intersection of Danebo & West 11th in west Eugene.

While out boating yesterday afternoon, we were amazed at the number of
grebes. I can't honestly say they were Western Grebes (yep, I forgot the
bins) but, based upon other reports, it's a good bet they were.

At any rate, there were eight at the entrance of the Long Tom River and at
the end of Jeans Peninsula we spotted another three, one with young on its
back! That's the first time we've seen them carrying the babies.

Back in the berth at Richardson's Park, while recanvasing the boat at dusk,
a lone Cedar Waxwing was flitting about the sailboat masts near us grabbing
spiders. At one point it wasn't more than four feet from us!

This brought up a question. Are there an unusual number of Western Grebes
at Fern Ridge this year? It seems like many more than in past years. I've
also noted a decided lack of Osprey this year. Last year it seemed every
nest site was taken, this year I've only seen one.


Happy Birding,

Peggi



Peggi Rodgers
Oregon Research Institute
Eugene, OR
peggir at ori.org
prodgers at efn.org
"A bird does not sing because it has an
answer, It sings because it has a song"