Towheeblog

In the past few days I have seen both House Sparrows and starlings looking for nest holes–both are introduced species whose forerunners acclimated to North America, just like our species.

Today I saw a scrub-jay carrying nesting material.
In our garden tghere are suet feeders and I watched a female downy coyly approach one. First she was in a tree NEXT to the pear where the suet block hung. She saw me and was high in the tree. I moved away and into the shadow next to the house. She then flew into the suet-pear. Then worked he way up the back side, watching for me or any other threat. At one point she actually backed down the back side of the right tree. The b like a creeper she flew to the base of the tree, immediately below the suet and gradually worked her way up…before finally glomming onto the target and then she became suited bythe suet. Yum.

A warbler was at the same suet block earlier–female Townsend’s. Then I saw a Myrtle Warbler on a feeder tray. In the Bay Area I often saw the two species feeding together in winter. I have not seen that here.

Only a single turkey today–a male ousted from the harem by alpha male:

Below: collared-dove, another introduced species. American Goldfinch in molt and bright male House Finch in full carotene-enriched breeding coloration. Fox Sparrow who’ll be gone in a few weeks–back to breeding territory.

At Mill Creek I watched hundreds of cacklers settle onto the lawn south of the Winco-connected warehouse. As they were landing the local starling flock flew in to join the crowd. Safety in numbers.

954 Ratcliff Drive SE, Marion, Oregon, US
Mar 9, 2022
21 species

Wild Turkey  1
Eurasian Collared-Dove  1
Mourning Dove  4
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  1
California Scrub-Jay  6
American Crow  3
Black-capped Chickadee  1
Chestnut-backed Chickadee  2
European Starling  1     looking for nest hole in neighbor’s garage
House Sparrow  2
House Finch  3
Lesser Goldfinch  12
American Goldfinch  10
Fox Sparrow  2
Dark-eyed Junco  20
Golden-crowned Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  1
Spotted Towhee  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  1
Townsend’s Warbler  1

Mill Creek Wetlands, Marion, Oregon, US
Mar 9, 2022 –afternoon under sunny skies
19 species–no recent sighting of the shrike that was there

Cackling Goose  600
Canada Goose  4
Northern Shoveler  30
Gadwall  6
Mallard  2
Northern Pintail  4
Green-winged Teal  80
Mourning Dove  4
American Coot  X
Killdeer  3
Wilson’s Snipe  8
Greater Yellowlegs  2
Red-tailed Hawk  3
American Crow  2
European Starling  50
White-crowned Sparrow  8
Western Meadowlark  9
Red-winged Blackbird  5
Yellow-rumped Warbler  1