Swainson's kettle, et al

[Dick Ashford]

While driving the Straits Drain this morning at approx 0945, Marshall Malden and I saw four Swainson’s Hawks flying up from the fields to the west of the drain. We got out of the car to watch and were fortunate to see the birds joined by several others, eventually forming a kettle of 20+ birds. They then spiraled out of sight. Pretty neat. We also saw several Swainson’s Hawks in addition to the kettle. BTW, there were LOTS of grasshoppers in the area today.

 

In the pond adjacent to the end of the LKNWR auto tour route, where it intersects Stateline Road, we saw three Soras in view at the same time.

 

Four Black-crowned Night-Herons were seen flying from the ditch adjacent to the willows near the end of the LKNWR auto tour route.

 

We also saw two Peregrine Falcons today: an imm anatum on the Tule Lake auto route, and an adult anatum perched on a power pole on Township Road, west of the Straits Drain.

 

On the drive over from Ashland, we had a Ruffed Grouse cross in front of the car on Clover Creek Road (approx 1.5 miles from Dead Indian Road).

 

Cheers,

Dick