Towheeblog

Here in our new home and garden. No evidence of any montane fire refugees, no junco nor Hermit Thrush. But some fall nomads, for sure. White-crowned Sparrow, first year bird. He certainly wasn’t born anywhere around here, could even be migrant from the Far North. The white-crown and the Song Sparrow were both new for the yard list, now exactly thirty species.

Contrary to most of my past experiences with these species, here the goldfinches and House Finches seem to come and go together. The House Finches may be local but are just now groking the feeder set-up here.

The bird bath was used by both species of jays this afternoon–get the ash off.

BUSHTITS RULE

YOUNG WREN

The smoke is still horrific. Salem had an air pollution reading over 400 all day. Businesses are advised to close when the number tops 150. All my birding was done through closed windows, air filters rumbling in the background.

THE SM0KE IS DEADLY

There is some evidence that our western wildfires are killing migrating songbirds. Click here report on gathering evidence.

954 Ratcliff Drive SE, Marion, Oregon, US
Sep 14, 2020
16 species

Vaux’s Swift  1
Anna’s Hummingbird  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  1
Steller’s Jay  1
California Scrub-Jay  3
American Crow  X
Black-capped Chickadee  2
Bushtit  20
Bewick’s Wren  1
European Starling  3
House Finch  3
American Goldfinch  10
Song Sparrow  1
Spotted Towhee  1
White-crowned Sparrow 1