MINTO-BROWN: On a chilly morning in the Willamette Valley. Vocalizations were grosbeak, Song Sparrow and thrushes.
First image shows fruit on chokecherry, then one of the waxwings on chokecherry. Robins and Swainson’s Thrush also seen eating chokecherries today. The small goose flock on Duck Pond. In middle image the teenager, second from right, has pale spot on back of its head. That is evident fuzz as these four “kids” were molting into adult-style feathers. The other two adult geese had a single, very young gosling.
Around Salem:
First image shows male House Sparrow exiting nest box on a neighbor’s house. Both adults have been very busy carrying food to that box for at least four days. Lesser Goldfinch peekaboo. Singing male towhee. Osprey over Turner Lake. Nuthatch not shy…youngster? Feathers look a bit rough…
Waxwing. Junco in our garden. That last image, red-wing in spring, full display. Sign of the times on a sign, period.
SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT
Man who has evidently lived several decades, arrives at our local city park. Peaceful, sunny morning. He brings along small table and folding chair and a quick lunch from local fast food supplier. Sets it all out and goes for quick pre-prandial walk. Sometimes human obliviousness is stunning, even to a cynic like me.
So what happened? This crow and partner took the bag of chips, ripped it open and emptied it, left the plastic on the sidewalk. The man was still on his walk. I can only guess what his wrap contained that the crows would not touch it! The large drink container weighed more than both crows combined so was beyond their strength.
Minto-Brown Island Park, Marion, Oregon, US
Jun 7, 2021 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM. 24 species
Canada Goose 9–five were youngsters
Mallard 1
Mourning Dove 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 2
Bald Eagle 2
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Steller’s Jay 1
California Scrub-Jay 2
American Crow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Tree Swallow 1
Violet-green Swallow 6
Barn Swallow 2
European Starling 2
Swainson’s Thrush 8
American Robin 4
Cedar Waxwing 10
Song Sparrow 11
Spotted Towhee 1
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Orange-crowned Warbler 1
Black-headed Grosbeak 3
Towheeblog 
Leave a Reply