Towheeblog

At Wennerberg Park this afternoon the Chipping Sparrows were almost as thick as the smoke in the air.  And also, in the air, was a quintet of Canada Geese. Three of them were wearing neck bands, presumably the youngsters.  Who’s banding our local geese in Yamhill County vicinity?  This summer’s young are now flying about with parents so those lines of geese will become more common and larger as the summer narrows into autumn.A few minutes after these geese flew over going north, the same group (same number anyway) came back, heading south.  Perhaps to Carlton Sewer Ponds which are near Wennerberg.I like young Chipping Sparrows, they don’t know to fly away when they first see a large, lumbering biped.This unedified fellow was out stirring up0 dust to add to the smoke particulates already in the air and in his own lungs…this view is west from Westside Road looking toward the Coastal Range foothills through the smoke.Cherry tree prepares for autumn, for fall…of the leaves.

In the flight picture the whole chickadee is in motion already…except the feet.

SOME COMMENTS ON MY NECK-RINGED BIRDS:

“These very well could be from the big collaring project in Nanaimo, BC. Several were harvested on Fern Ridge Lake (and a couple other Willamette Valley locations) during the second week of September 2017, banded the same year. I know personally of 6 harvested last September and 1 other seen. These westerns are migrating south early on and are not all residents. The alternative is the annual banding project on the islands of the Lower Columbia River – I know they banded there this year, but I’m not sure if they put on collars.–Cody Smith, Molalla, OR”

“I have sightings of white neck collared Canada Geese here in Washington County.  Amazingly both times were also in August.

August 30, 2016 there were 6 collared Geese at Jackson Bottom Wetlands in Hillsboro.August 21, 2017 there were 5 collared Canada Geese at Fernhill Wetlands in
Forest Grove.

FOR ASPIRING BIRD PHOTOGRAPHERS

A friend of mine, Kirby Flanagan, is a professional bird photographer. And he’s teaching a class on the techniques and skills this fall…in Nevada.  Click on this class description for details:  Bird Photography… Capture stunning images of our local waterfowl, birds of prey and more. Review the basics of composition, correct exposure and photography techniques…