Towheeblog

Again, the flicker was drumming on our chimney flashing this (Thursday) morning. Of course, the house was vibrating. Then the flicker repeated on Friday–7AM sharp. I also saw a crow carrying nesting material.

The weather or the siskins seem to have driven our Lesser Goldfinches away. Have they already departed for suitable nesting habitat? This neighborhood wouldn’t suit for that.
Meanhwhile our turkey flock has atomized. A single tom, a duo of toms, a tom and hen, alpha tom and his harem of six hens… Friday only lone tom appeared in our garden.

Some male American Goldfinches have nearly completed the costume change into breeding plumage.

FIRSTS IN FLOCKS
Thursday eve I tasught a birdi9ng class in McMinnville. Around 5pm as I headed across the bridge nover the Wllamette toward West Salem–Osprey circling. My first of the year. Then Friday one passed over our house.
The class ended at 730P, I packed up, headed home. By 752PM I was heading east on Stringtown Road east of the McM Airport–a Short-eared Owl flew over the road, about fifty feet up. The owl was heading north. A first for that species this year.

Ar Clark Creek Park this morning I watched a pair of Red-breasted Nuthatches chasign one another–sex not food this time. Then two birds landed in a nearby treetop–two Chipping Sparrows, another first for the year.

Friday afternoon Nora and I checked out some nearby wetlands. At Fairview there was a PB Grebe, first for that location this year. Then, skulking low through the willows–a male Common Yellowthroat, a first for the year. Next we went to Mill Creek–no shrike. Then in the usual flock of cacklers–a quartet of White-fronted Geese, a first for that location, ever…and my first of that species this year. There were at least ten Greater Yellowlegs present, a high count so far for that location. Spring brings change.

Click here for summary of report on how some bird species are nesting earlier in response to climate change.

WHITE-FRONTS AT MILL CREEK, AMONG FRIENDS

The yellowthroat was deep in the willows, rarely still, almost unseeable, see:

Might be the dawn drummer:

OREGON’S OFFICIAL STATE SINGER

954 Ratcliff Drive SE, Marion, Oregon, US
Mar 24, 2022
19 species

Mourning Dove  X
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  1     drumming on chimney flashing
Steller’s Jay  1
California Scrub-Jay  X
American Crow  X
Chestnut-backed Chickadee  2
Bushtit  2
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
European Starling  X
American Robin  2
House Finch  4
Pine Siskin  15
American Goldfinch  12
Fox Sparrow  1
Dark-eyed Junco  20
Golden-crowned Sparrow  2
Song Sparrow  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  1

954 Ratcliff Drive SE, Marion, Oregon, US
Mar 25, 2022
20 species

Cackling Goose  80     fly over
Wild Turkey  1
Eurasian Collared-Dove  1
Mourning Dove  4
Osprey  1     fly over
Northern Flicker  2
Steller’s Jay  1
California Scrub-Jay  X
American Crow  X
Chestnut-backed Chickadee  2
American Robin  2
House Finch  4
Pine Siskin  15
American Goldfinch  2
Fox Sparrow  1
Dark-eyed Junco  20
Golden-crowned Sparrow  2
Song Sparrow  1
Spotted Towhee  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  1

Mill Creek Wetlands, Marion, Oregon, US
Mar 25, 2022
15 species

Greater White-fronted Goose  4
Cackling Goose  300
Northern Shoveler  12
Green-winged Teal  50
Mourning Dove  X
Long-billed Dowitcher  40
Wilson’s Snipe  1
Greater Yellowlegs  8
California Scrub-Jay  1
European Starling  X
American Robin  X
Song Sparrow  4
Western Meadowlark  X
Red-winged Blackbird  X
Yellow-rumped Warbler  3