Along with the welcomed rain, the three expected wintering sparrows are present today in our garden: fox, golden-crowned, white-throated. While a regular wintering species in western Oregon the white-throat is in reality and reputation an “eastern” species which breeds up in Alaska, and mostly migrates east of the Rockies. Last spring we had at least one in garden, last seen second week of April.
And a trio of turkeys cam by with a companion–male peafowl. Our local peafarmer has apparently released this bird again. He was not seen all summer.
The larger turkey gang crossing the road was the flock’o’nine I saw yesterday.
All my sparrows shoits were taken through a fogged up window. Above: golden-crowned with his back turned, fox looking right at me.
954 Ratcliff Drive SE, Marion, Oregon, US
Oct 28, 2022
14 species
Cackling Goose 35 fly over
Wild Turkey 4
Indian Peafowl (Domestic type) 1
Mourning Dove 4
Northern Flicker 1
Steller’s Jay 1
California Scrub-Jay X
American Crow X
House Finch 15
American Goldfinch 20
Fox Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco 6
Golden-crowned Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 1 first sighting this season at this location
Bird banding in Willamette Valley–click here for description. A piece I wrote for Salem Reporter.
Can’t keep a good godwit down. One youngster flew over 8000 miles without stopping. Click here.
Wanna see who comes to an East Coast feeder? Click here for photo gallery of close-ups.
Horse rescue ranch in the Willamette needs donors–click here. It’s not far from Baskett Slough–over 40 rescued critters altogether.
Drought along the Mississippi River is gonna hit us all. Click here.
Towheeblog 
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