Towheeblog

Today was our first field trip for our McMinnville autumn birding class. Sadly, the weather was perfect (rain???), and this afternoon Salem’s high is 90, that’s not a typo. Climate changed.

Not much water, many birds. Likely pintails and cacklers the most numerous species. One surprise: dozens of foraging Barn Swallows. EBird records show that the barnies taper off in sightings during October but are regularly seen through the end of the month. Last swallows to leave ordinarily. The pipits were playing hard to see. Most of the waxwings we saw were in one gigantic flock scared into the air by a peregrine youth. No swans or pelicans seen. Little water at The Narrows.

Dave Irons tells me this is typical hatch-year Snow Goose. It showed little intention of staying away from people, It was much closer to us than any of the ducks.

Baskett Slough NWR, Polk, Oregon, US
Oct 15, 2022
28 species

Cackling Goose  500
Canada Goose  8
Snow Goose 1–immature
Northern Shoveler  20
Gadwall  X
Mallard  X
Northern Pintail  X
American Coot  X
Killdeer  X
Wilson’s Snipe  2     scared up by an obliging harrier
Great Blue Heron  2
Northern Harrier  1
Bald Eagle  2
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Northern Flicker  3
American Kestrel  4
Peregrine Falcon  1
American Crow  25
Barn Swallow  60
European Starling  X
American Robin  1
Cedar Waxwing  200
American Pipit  X
White-crowned Sparrow  3
Savannah Sparrow  8
Song Sparrow  1
Spotted Towhee  1
Western Meadowlark  20
Brewer’s Blackbird  X