Hey Tweeters,
I birded Oregon today with Carol Schulz, particularly in the Canby area
southwest of Oregon City. We were successful in finding the Cassin's
Kingbird. Throughout the day we had gorgeous weather. Mostly clear, sunny
skies with patchy fog in the morning.
Upon our arrival at Gun Club Road, we only had to wait about 2 minutes
before the CASSIN'S KINGBIRD flew in from another location. After if came in,
it was very accommodating and allowed us to view and videotape it for over an
hour! It was very actively foraging the entire time we observed it; landing
on weeds, barb-wire fences, tops of trees, or on the ground. It was also very
aggressive while we watched it, as most kingbirds are. As a Red-tail flew by,
the kingbird flew up and harassed it. The bird didn't call while we were
there, but the markings were quite distinct. As we were about to leave, the
bird flew up to the bluff and perched in the tops of the oaks; when hanging
out over there it would be easy to miss. That was the only truly rare bird
here, but other interesting birds included:
30 California Quail
3 American Pipits
1 Western Meadowlark
1 Dark-eyed (SLATE-COLORED) Junco

We then headed for Astoria. We eventually did make it to the mitigation
bank, though it took a surprisingly long time to get there from Portland. As
we drove into the mitigation bank, we flushed a likely RED-SHOULDERED HAWK
from the road. A slim, smallish buteo with a long tail, and those striking
crescents at the base of the primaries. It also flew with a distinct "flap,
flap, flap, glide" pattern like Red-shoulders typically do. Couldn't make out
much of the tail pattern in the brief view we had of it, but my impression
was that it had horizontal bars on it. The view was so brief, however, that
we couldn't be sure it wasn't a very odd juvenile Red-tailed Hawk. The only
other notable birds here were 2 Virginia Rails calling in a wet area.
Couldn't find the Brown Thrasher seen 2 days ago.

At the end of the day we went to the South Jetty of the Columbia River
(SJCR). At least 100 remaining Brown Pelicans, about a dozen shearwater spp.,
and a magnificent sunset. That's about all for now. Good birding.

Charlie Wright, 13
Birdking88 at aol.com
Sumner, WA