One visit, two fine birds. I am now officially a Soraptomist, no longer a pessimist about seeing the little fellows. But even before the Sora walked on water…they do that, no miracle involved…I uttered a few foul words worthy of a Presidential tweet, then started shooting pictures…for there before my wide-open eyes (call ’em “surpreyes” if you will) was a pair of Blue-winged Teal:
I checked with Paul Sullivan who may know as much as anybody about birding Yamhill County…he knows of no modern record for this species breeding here. They do breed in small numbers in eastern Oregon in marshy habitats. I will be watching…
Fourth time’s the charm, my water-walkin’ Sora:
And here is Soraland around the edge of the pond:
No Name Pond, McMinnville, OR, Yamhill, Oregon, US
May 6, 2018. 19 species
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) 2 very unusual bird here; a mated pair
Mallard (Northern) (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos/conboschas) 1
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 2
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) 1 second day in a row for this male bird
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1
Sora (Porzana carolina) 1
American Coot (Fulica americana) 3
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) X
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) X
Vaux’s Swift (Chaetura vauxi) 1
Steller’s Jay (Coastal) (Cyanocitta stelleri [stelleri Group]) 1
California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica) 2
Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) X
White-breasted Nuthatch (Pacific) (Sitta carolinensis aculeata/alexandrae) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) X
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) 1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) X
Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) X
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) X
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