Towheeblog

Just after the snow stopped and the sky partially cleared, I headed off to Ashland Pond. No longer confined to quarters by the cold and wet, songbirds were fluttering and feeding.  One Robin even broke into song.  Temperature about 40 degrees.

There’s nothing “lesser” about this tiny goldfinch when it comes to spring clothing for the males.

Pictures below:    Not all the Yellow-rumped Warblers were brightly colored.  Some had feathers still askew.  The waxy material that covers new quills was clinging like dandruff. Many were mid-molt, drab, unfinished.  Like this one:

And this White-crowned Sparrow was truly a “bright-crowned” bird.

Oregon grape, our state flower, in golden bloom.

Stinging nettle, a beauty to behold.  Stinging nettle, a pain to be held.

Location:     Ashland Pond
Observation date:     3/30/10
Notes:     Birded right after snow and rain stopped and there was a little sun so plenty of feeding activity by songbirds.
Number of species:     21

Canada Goose     25
American Wigeon     2
Mallard     15
Turkey Vulture     16
American Coot     1
Downy Woodpecker     1
Black Phoebe     1
Western Scrub-Jay     3
American Crow     1
Tree Swallow     5
Black-capped Chickadee     1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     1
American Robin     6
Yellow-rumped Warbler     20
Song Sparrow     3
White-crowned Sparrow     2
Golden-crowned Sparrow     14
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)     1
Red-winged Blackbird     12
Purple Finch     3
Lesser Goldfinch     22