Wild kingdom

[offcntr]

So we came out of the Chinese buffet Sunday night to see a small bird just dive-bombing a raven perched on a utility pole. Shortly afterwards, another of the same sort flew over, harassing a crow, then broke off to tag-team on the raven. And occasionally pick on each other. Didn't recognize the birds by sight--looked like a pale yellow breast, though that could have been from sunset; definitely black under the tail, possibly with white outer feathers? Google wanted to show me a bunch of warblers and western tanagers, but finally found the Western Kingbird, with the correct colors and territorial attitude. I've only seen the Eastern variety, stark black and white, so this was a new one for me.

Just outside of Sutherlin, I spotted a silhouette alongside the road, and got Denise's attention from her book in time to share a blacktail buck, forked antlers still in velvet, standing on the shoulder.

Thought that would be the high point of the drive, but just below Cottage Grove, I saw something that topped it: Two bull elk, grazing on the embankment above the road. Also in velvet, but with much more impressive racks.