At Baskett Slough [correction!] NWR, about 330PM. The mostly white Cackling goose was in a flock of several hundred. When spotted it (there are four other witnesses, we saw the bird clearly through a scope) the flock was at the eastern edge of the refuge, in a field south of Coville Road. I walked out to try to get near enough for a photo but an eagle came by and sent the flock into its usual aerial frenzy. The unusual bird’s body was mostly white. Its neck and face looked normal and the wings also had a lot of dark feathers.
Altogether there were over five thousand Cackling Geese in the fields at Basket Slough NWR this afternoon. And at least six Bald Eagles. Many ducks still about and the water level is high.
The only Yellow-headed Blackbird we found was on private land. It was among red-wings in marsh near Hwy99. North of Coville Road. There were Horned Larks calling nearby as well.
Baskett Slough NWR, Polk, Oregon, US
Apr 21, 2023
25 species
Cackling Goose 5000 including one leucistic bird
Canada Goose X
Northern Shoveler X
American Wigeon X
Mallard X
Northern Pintail X
Green-winged Teal X
Ring-necked Duck X
Lesser Scaup 2
Bufflehead X
Ruddy Duck X
Killdeer X
Dunlin 30
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Northern Harrier 2
Bald Eagle 7
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Kestrel 1
American Crow X
Tree Swallow X
Barn Swallow X
Cliff Swallow X many dozens
Savannah Sparrow 2
Western Meadowlark X
Red-winged Blackbird X
Polk County, Polk, Oregon, US
Apr 21, 2023
10 species
Cackling Goose X
Canada Goose X
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) X
Great Egret 1
Turkey Vulture 2
American Kestrel 1
Horned Lark X
European Starling X
Yellow-headed Blackbird 1
Red-winged Blackbird X
Towheeblog 
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