Towheeblog

There he sits. High in a dead tree at Fairview Wetlands, Salem. Along the trailside channel across the street from the driveway to the ODFW office. Did he know I was looking for him? Is that why he flew in and perched thirty feet over my head? I like to think it was my just reward for going out in the cold, rainy, blustery weather. Thanks, shrikey.
Note those wavy lines across his chest, a bit of paleness around the eye.
He is found across the northern parts of the Northern hemisphere. In North America he breeds in Alaska and far northern Canada. Neither jay nor goose, but Canada all the same. In Asia he breeds mostly above the 50th parallel. The blue parts are wintering grounds. The closely related Great Gray Shrike is found in Northern Europe, smaller and more colorful shrikes are widespread in Europe, as well.

[Map courtesy of Birds of the World online] Shrikes are predators and solitary outside breeding season. They are not related to raptors. The Loggerhead Shrike is a breeding species in open areas of eastern Oregon, like Harney County.

Also at Fairview: lots of water and dabbling ducks, the first few ring-necks of the season there, plus a kingfisher. It was dry a month ago. What can he find in the water?

Coop, kingfisher, high water:

SPEAKING OF CANADIANS SOUTH FOR THE WINTER (click any image for full screen view):

LEUC SKYWALKER

More of the leucistic American Goldfinch and his drab buddies:

MORE GARDEN VARIETY

SALEM AUDUBON BIRDERS’ NIGHT–NOV. 8

Speakers: Pat  and Joann Gallagher
November 8, 6:30 pm Broadway Commons

Long-time members of the Salem Audubon Society will be the featured speakers at our next Birder’s Night on Tuesday, November 8.

Pat and Joann Gallagher joined SAS in the early 1990s and have been active volunteers for more than 20 years. Pat started and managed the SAS Western Blue Bird conservation program for 22 years and volunteered in the Salem Audubon woodshop for 24 years.

International birding became a significant interest of the Gallaghers after hearing about Jerry Smith’s travels. They have done over 30 bird tours in 22 countries. A favorite place for their travel is India, where we have gone 4 times for Pat and 5 times for Joann. We have been to six continents, missing only Antarctica.

Their presentation will focus on wildlife seen on a recent trip to Ethiopia.

Correction: The November Birder’s Night WILL INCLUDE i Zoom access.. All ZOOM attendees must register in advance. The link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0l6XI4IjQLqv7IWIkoAByQ

Fairview Wetlands, Marion, Oregon, US
Nov 7, 2022
14 species

Gadwall  30
American Wigeon  14
Mallard  120
Green-winged Teal  30
Ring-necked Duck  7
Wilkson’s Snipe 1
Cooper’s Hawk  1
Belted Kingfisher  1
Northern Shrike  1
American Crow  4
Black-capped Chickadee  2
American Robin  11
Song Sparrow  1
Red-winged Blackbird  4

954 Ratcliff Drive SE, Marion, Oregon, US
Nov 7, 2022
14 species

Mourning Dove  3
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  1
Steller’s Jay  X
California Scrub-Jay  X
American Crow  4
Black-capped Chickadee  X
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
House Finch  X
American Goldfinch  X     including one leucistic
Dark-eyed Junco  15
Golden-crowned Sparrow  2
White-throated Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  1