I watched a raven fly back and forth across my fields a couple of times
today while out birding in my big backyard. I thought I saw him do some
sort of aerial maneuver, kind of like the whippling that geese do as
they come in for a landing. Once I started going through my photos I
spotted this lucky shot. I thought maybe he was just looking up, but
then when I turned the photo upside down he looked like he was flying
right side up.

See it here:
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/p206x206/23339_483498395021523_1888073680_n.jpg

Or here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/almostdailynews/

Crazy! I don't know what I'm more excited about today, seeing my first
Merlin or watching an air show by a Raven.

In case anyone is driving through the area, there are reports of large
flocks of SWANS off Hwy 6 (south of Chehalis off I-5) in Adna and at the
Hwy 603 and Twin Oaks roads. Just had a call from a reader telling me
she has 7 SHRIKES in her yard, she thinks they are Loggerhead Shrikes,
not Northern.

--
*Kimberly Mason, p/SSG*
Cinebar, WA
360-269-5017
The (Almost) Daily News <http://almostdailynews.com>
Freelancing for The Chronicle <http://www.chronline.com>, Centralia, WA