Towheeblog

Earlier today some waxwings settled high in one of our Doug-firs, checking out the menu. They were fluttery and didn’t stay long. One of them must have noticed the cottoneaster just below where they’d perched. About 5:15Pm we walked up our driveway from the street and noticed the garden was alive with birds. A flock of dozens of waxwings were feeding.

Morning:

Evening:

This cottoneaster has been problematic in our over-crowded garden. It is jammed against a larger, gorgeous rose that dates to the era of Lord & Schryver garden designs. That rose is jammed against an even larger, vigorous lilac. Of the three it seemed the cottoneaster was the expendable. I think the bright behavior of the feeding waxwings just proved that it only takes a few minutes for them to justify the cottoneaster’s entire annual life cycle. Trimmed, but it stays.

Tuesday I saw a California Gull over south Salem–a season first.

Turtle talk–click here.

You already knew that birds are good for you. For confirmation–click here.

954 Ratcliff Drive SE, Marion, Oregon, US
Nov 2, 2022
16 species

Wild Turkey  10     flock of 9; single tom
Eurasian Collared-Dove  1
Mourning Dove  7
Northern Flicker  1
Steller’s Jay  X
California Scrub-Jay  X
American Crow  X
Black-capped Chickadee  1
Bushtit  20
Cedar Waxwing 60
House Finch  X
American Goldfinch  30
Fox Sparrow  1
Dark-eyed Junco  6
Golden-crowned Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  1

Ankeny NWR, Marion, Oregon, US
Nov 1, 2022
23 species

Cackling Goose  X
Canada Goose  X
Northern Shoveler  X
Mallard  X
Northern Pintail  X
Green-winged Teal  X
Ring-necked Duck  3
Western Sandpiper  30
Long-billed Dowitcher  X
Greater Yellowlegs  X
Great Blue Heron  5
Great Egret  2
Northern Harrier  1
Red-tailed Hawk  2
Northern Flicker  4
California Scrub-Jay  X
European Starling  400
American Robin  5
Fox Sparrow  1
Golden-crowned Sparrow  15
Spotted Towhee  2
Western Meadowlark  X
Brewer’s Blackbird  4