I work Downtown with a view that stretches very far north, very far east, and very far south. I've seen large flocks of Am White Pelicans, Sandhill Cranes, GWFGees, and Cacklers fly through, soar above, and circle downtown over the past three weeks. Spectacular to watch. There are reports of over 100 AW Pelicans on Sauvie and quite a few west on the Columbia and some in Ridgefield. Not surprising to have them all come up at once if there is a big distrubance or threat and to circle a wide area before checking back for safety in their domicile territory.

Rob Conway
SW Portland
45.46?N 122.68?W (Elev. 473ft)
robin_birder at hotmail.com



From: gneavoll at comcast.net
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2012 19:15:04 -0700
To: obol at oregonbirds.org
CC: tyler_hicks at wsu.edu
Subject: [OBOL] Pelicans, not Snow Geese, over Portland

Tyler Hicks and two companions attending this week's annual conference of The Wildlife Society in Portland reported a large flock of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS circling, pelican-like, over Portland at about the same time I was reporting what I believed at the time to be Snow Geese. I now believe them to have been the pelicans - "a spectacular sight," as Tyler says.

Begin forwarded message:From: George Neavoll <gneavoll at comcast.net>
Subject: Snow Geese, Cacklers over Portland
Date: October 16, 2012 10:09:48 AM PDT
To: OBOL <obol at oregonbirds.org>

Huge flock (ca. 200.) of SNOW GEESE wheeling, circling slowly over downtown Portland in southerly direction between 9:45 and 10 a.m. today (10/16/12). At least eight flocks of CACKLING GEESE, beginning at 7:50, passing over earlier.

George Neavoll
S.W. Portland

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