Towheeblog

The dogs and I braved the rainy skies and went birding.  First we stopped at Airport Park east of McMinnville.  Just before we got there we checked out the large field between the hospital and airport, south of Hwy 18.  It was heavingh with Cackling Geese.  When we passed by 90 minutes later, most were gone.

The outstanding observation at the Airport Park was auditory: hundreds of singing frogs.  Spring must be upon us.  Today I also saw for the first time, daffodils showing buds with yellow visible.  The alder, hazelnut and dawn redwoods all show long green tassels already.

Most of the best bird sightings of the day were overhead: thousands of dark geese, calling and moving about in clumps or Vs.  Three Tundra swans flying over Grand Island.  A pair of adult Bald Eagles together, ditto.  Hunting peregrine along the Willamette River.  The swollen river was just  below flood stage but many backwaters were directly connected to the main current, not isolated pools as they usually are.  It was in one of those near the Willamette Greenway parking area that i found the Spotted Sandpiper and Black Phoebe.

The bird of the day was the Spotted Sandpiper. Also on Grand Island:

OVERHEAD THE GOOSE GO ON AND ON

McMinnville Airport Park & Airport Road, Yamhill, Oregon, US
Jan 23, 2016 10:10 AM – 10:40 AM.11 species

Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii)  2000
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  20
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)  50
Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)  1
Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna)  1
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)  2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  6
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  X
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)  25
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  2
Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)  2

Oregon2020–SE Grand Island Loop, Yamhill, Oregon, US
Jan 23, 2016 11:15 AM – 12:30 PM.  18 species

Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii)  X
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  X

Tundra swans   3
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)  X
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)  X
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  2
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  2
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)  1
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  2
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)  1
Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)  1
Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)  2
Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica)  2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  X
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  X
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)  30
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  9
Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)  1