Aug 20, 1947 - Corvallis - Nighthawks called at 7 p.m. Aug 21, 1947 - Corvallis,- " " " 645 p.m. Aug 23, 1947 - Corvallis - " " " 6 p.m. There were 20-25 together. Vaux Swifts calling and flying high at 6 p.m. 15-20 of them. August 24, 1947, Corvallis Gravel Pits, Willamette R., 12 noon to 1440 p.m. Clear and warm, NW 3-5. American Mergansers - At almost exactly 1215 noon I saw a group of "ducks" come around a bend in the river some 3/8 mile upstream from where I was located. I put the glasses on them and counted 10 birds, as they all got up and ran across the water to the inside of the next curve of the river. It took them approximately 17 minutes to work there way downstream the length of the in- side of the curve, and into an estuary some 200 yards below and across the river from me. All birds were in the female plumage, and all were so much alike in size and coloration that no slight differences could be noted that might have distinguished the adult males and females from the young birds. Every once in a while a few of the birds would stand up and stretch their body and wings, displaying the bright white wing patches and under colorations. They were evidently busy fishing, for they did not see me, tho I stood on the bank. They "chased" over the shallow water areas together, diving, etc., and often would seem to be chasing each other. Often they glided over the water with their heads "cocked" looking downward and the crests slightly erected; or with the bill and front part of the head submerged and the neck arched; or swimming nearly submerged with only the top arch of the "shoulders" show- ing; or even swimming entirely submerged, at which time a definite increase in their sppeed was noted. All 10 of them did a good job of "milling around" and they tended to turn the fish, etc., into the shallow water. Once in a while one would get a couple of feet from the water, chasing an insect, in an awkward waddling-roll. Some of the birds, after swimming under water for a while were observed to actually come up, jumping clear of the water a few inches, tho not flying at all. They were not seen from 1245 to 1430, but at that time they were evidently flushed from some place farther downstream, for they flew upstream and landed opposite me, on the inside of the river curve again, and they began "feeding" upstream again. They found one nearly still place in the river, and all of them hesitated there a few minutes and were observed to do some preening, and just plain sitting. Vultures flying over Sharp-shinned Hawk in small Cottonwood about to take after some Robins on the ground. Killdeer flew over, and lit on the gravel bars. Spotted Sandpipers - 2 hung pretty close to one gravel bar. Mourning Doves flew over. Kingfisher - 2 seen. One would climb high, hover, and then swoop upstream a ways, climbing up again, hover, swoop upstream, dive downward and pulled out with outhighting the water, and skimming along just above it, as it crossed the river. Lewis Woodpeckers - 4 of them were seen flying high, and heading SW. Violet-green Swallows - mostly immatures were seen over the river. Oregon Chickadees - working the brush in small groups Seattle Wrens scalding. Robins - 15-20 of them were on a fresh pile of dirt and rock in a sunny spot. Russet-backed Thrush - a few heard. Cedar Waxwings Willow Goldfinches flew over Oregon Towhee.