Towheeblog

This afternoon Nora and I did short walk at Fairview Wetlands–saw some young waterfowl. Two young Pied-billed Grebe about half the size of their adult supervisor; several Canada Geese; one young Mallard. I’ve heard that avian flu has been cpnfirmed among the birds there. A run-over goose in the street could have been weakened by the disease. It is not usual to see road killed geese there despite their large wintetr numbers and a presence year-round.

But seeing two Sora on the canal next to the transverse trail–that was optimism-inducing. They screamed at Nora before I saw one, then a second…both scampering across the water to get further away from the predator. They wouldn’t pose, neither would the skittish yellowthroat. Killdeer want to be watched so they can lead you astray.

We picked some few of the hundreds of roses now in our garden. One was accompanied into the house by a ladybug larva, soon returned to the wild. Umpressive little bug–alligator-like.
Here is an image from the Internet:

Tomorrow summer and our longest day in the Northern Hemisphere. Solstice. Earlier generations made much of June 21. Some wannabe druids still do.

Fairview Wetlands, Marion, Oregon, US
Jun 20, 2022
11 species

Canada Goose  X
Mallard  X
Pied-billed Grebe  3
Sora  2
Killdeer  2
American Crow  1
Tree Swallow  X
European Starling  X
American Robin  2
Red-winged Blackbird  X
Common Yellowthroat  1