Towheeblog

Our McMinnville birding class went to Baskett Slough this morning.  There were still a good variety of waterfowl, returned spring migrants like the swallows cruising through the air and enough raptor action to keep the geese in motion.  We heard songs or calls from many birds–Pied-billed Grebe, Sora (not seen), White-crowned and Savannah Sparrow, meadowlark (not seen), scrub-jay, Marsh Wren (not seen), Red-winged Blackbirds and Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Orange-crowned Warblers…and the geese. The most alarming call was a Tree Swallow passing us at our shoulder level and screaming as he went.
An Osprey flew right over our head, then a second year Bald Eagle plunked down on a limb in clear view across the Coville Road pond.  So we ended the morning with five raptor species, eleven species of waterfowl, three shorebirds and three swallows.

Here is our most handsome bird of the day:

Baskett Slough NWR, Polk, Oregon, US
Apr 27, 2019 9:35 AM – 11:35 AM.
39 species–good count for  two hours of birding.
Cackling Goose  X
Canada Goose  X
Cinnamon Teal  X
Northern Shoveler  X
Gadwall  X
Mallard  X
Green-winged Teal  X
Ring-necked Duck  X
Lesser Scaup  X
Bufflehead  X
Ruddy Duck  X
California Quail  X
Pied-billed Grebe  X
Sora  2
American Coot  X
Black-necked Stilt  2
Least Sandpiper  10
Long-billed Dowitcher  12
Great Blue Heron  2
Turkey Vulture  X
Osprey  1
Northern Harrier  1
Bald Eagle  1
Red-tailed Hawk  2
California Scrub-Jay  3
American Crow  X
Tree Swallow  X
Barn Swallow  X
Cliff Swallow  X
Marsh Wren  1
American Robin  X
White-crowned Sparrow  X
Golden-crowned Sparrow  X
Savannah Sparrow  X
Song Sparrow  X
Yellow-headed Blackbird  4
Western Meadowlark  X
Red-winged Blackbird  X
Orange-crowned Warbler  2