Towheeblog

Here is explanation of why Tualatin River NWR looks so droughty–restoration work.  From Dennis Deck: “They have drawn everything down for all the work to recreate the
Chicken Creek drainage and re-establish historic water flow.   As soon
as they are done for this year they’ll open the gates.”

Today our McMinnville birding class went to Tualatin River NWR.  There was very little water.  “Ponds” were really acres of dried mud and reviving grass.  We saw more nutria than ducks.  Geese were plentiful, but all were airborne.  Despite that, we had a good morning for seeing songbirds.

Along trail was a feeding flock of sparrows: song, many golden-crowned, a couple white-crowned and a slew of juncos.  A Pacific Wren was among the sword ferns in the riparian forest.  Out in the regenerating oak forest were more juncos, chickadees and a curious kinglet who looked us over and left unimpressed.  One of our sharp-eyed birder also spotted a creeper there.
Below; flicker, chickadee, gaggle of flying Cacklers:

Tualatin River NWR–Atfálat’i Unit, Washington, Oregon, US
Oct 12, 2019
28 species

Cackling Goose  X
Canada Goose  X
Gadwall  2
Mallard  6
Green-winged Teal  12
Anna’s Hummingbird  3
Killdeer  2
Least Sandpiper  1
Great Blue Heron  3
Northern Flicker  3
California Scrub-Jay  2
American Crow  X
Black-capped Chickadee  2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Brown Creeper  1
Pacific Wren  1
Bewick’s Wren  2
European Starling  X
American Robin  X
Cedar Waxwing  X
House Finch  4
Lesser Goldfinch  X
American Goldfinch  15
Dark-eyed Junco  40
White-crowned Sparrow  2
Golden-crowned Sparrow  15
Song Sparrow  1
Red-winged Blackbird  X