Annual Barn Swallow flock forming again

As they do every fall, the Barn Swallows (possibly a significant portion of the west coast population) are gathering again to roost in the corn fields south of Dayton in Yamhill Co., Oregon. This snapshot is taken from a short video recorded on August 30. You can watch the video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1-s1sFrook

If you can play it as HD level 1080p and full screen, you will get a better view. But this video does not really do justice to the spectacular show that is playing out there in the low-lying fields along the Willamette River.

Peeps along the Willamette River

Today after dropping the kids off at the Wheatland Ferry to float down the Willamette River for a few miles, I had a close encounter with a small flock of Western Sandpipers (below) and at least one Least Sandpiper (above) traveling with them. They presumably are on the way to their winter quarters somewhere south of here.

Turkey Vulture at eye level

Very little time for birding this summer, but this evening on the way to cool off in the Willamette River with the grandsons this Turkey Vulture posed briefly for us on a post at the end of a row of Blueberries.