Towheeblog

Today was the field trip for the KBO spring birds “talk and walk.”  We saw at least 48 species, not counting a couple birds seen by only one or two (including a Townsend’s Warbler and Ruby-crowned Kinglet).  We had seven raptors including both eagles, kite and harrier.  Among the newly arrived migrants were Lincoln’s and Chipping Sparrow, over a dozen Orange-crowned Warblers at Ashland Pond, Common Yellowthroat and a stream of Tree Swallows passing by.

Nesting birds were giant and tiny: Great Horned Owl, Red-tailed Hawk, Bushtit and Dipper.  We saw both parents carrying food to dipperlets at Bridge #3, Lithia Park.

My personal favorite bird of the day was Merlin atop the ancient walnut by North Mountain’s Nature Center.  He even gave us a couple fly-overs and then returned to that visible perch.

Yellow-rumped Warblers at Ashland Pond included at least two of the Myrtle variety.

I can’t upload any pictures for some reason–equipment glitch.  But here’s the checklists from today:  Hwy 66 east of Ashland, Jackson, US-OR
Apr 4, 2015 8:45 AM – 9:10 AM.  7 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 1
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 2
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 15
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1
Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica) 1
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) X
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) X

Emigrant Lake, Jackson, US-OR
Apr 4, 2015 9:15 AM – 10:15 AM.  24 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  X
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  X
American Wigeon (Anas americana)  X
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  X
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)  X
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)  2
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  3
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  X
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  2
White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus)  1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  X
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica)  X
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  X
Common Raven (Corvus corax)  4
Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus)  2
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  2
Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)  4
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  X
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  20
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)  20
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus);  Lesser Goldfinch

Dead Indian Mem. Rd., Jackson, US-OR
Apr 4, 2015 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.10 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  2
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)  1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  1     incubating eggs
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)  3     including owlet in nest with mother owl
Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)  1
Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica)  3
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  X
Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla)  X
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)  X
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus)  X

North Mountain Park, Jackson, US-OR
Apr 4, 2015 10:50 AM – 12:10 PM.  Comments:     One birder saw a Townsend’s Warbler
27 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  X
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  X
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  X
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)  1
Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)  1
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)  1     nest building
Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata)  12
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  1
Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  X
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  X
Merlin (Falco columbarius)  1
Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica)  X
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  X
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  X
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  X
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  X
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  15
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  1
Lincoln’s Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)  1
Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla)  X
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)  X
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  X
Brewer’s Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)  2
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)  2
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus)  25
Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)  X

Lithia Park, Jackson, US-OR
Apr 4, 2015 12:20 PM – 12:40 PM. 3 species

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  4
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  2
American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus)  2     carrying food to nest at Bridge #3

Ashland Pond, Jackson, US-OR
Apr 4, 2015 1:50 PM – 2:50. 28 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  X
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  X
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  X
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  1
American Coot (Fulica americana)  1
Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata)  12
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)  X
Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)  X
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  X
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  X
Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica)  X
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  X
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  X
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  X
Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus)  1     working on nest
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  1
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)  1
Bewick’s Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)  1     singing on territory
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  X
Orange-crowned Warbler (Oreothlypis celata)  15
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  10
Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)  1
Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla)  X
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  X
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus)  2
Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)  X
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  X