Towheeblog

Today the American Goldfinches are uncountable, too many too frantic too flighty. But there must be forty, or more. They are at the seed feeders in tight flocks–only the chickadees seem bold enough to fly in, grab a chip and fly off. None of the other small birds want to deal with the goldfinches, not even the House Finches which not showed up today.

Steller’s Sea-eagle, close cuz of our Bald Eagle, is being seen right now in Maine–click here. Maybe that ultra-cold wave made him fell at home. The bird is native to Eurasia’s northern extremes. This bird is one of several new species (including the Steller sea-cow) that Georg Steller discovered in the North Pacific as medic on the Bering Expedition, in the 1730s. Steller was one of the few survivors. He managed to keep himself and a few trusting sailors alive, most of the expedition died in a wreck or later from scurvy, not listening to dietary advice from a German doctor.

Insect populations declining in Asia–click here.

A couple of dome shots by Lee French. Great Gray Owl behind the log:

2023 MALHEUR TRIPS WITH HARRY FULLER
Below: Franklin’s Gull, rowdy young Prairie Falcon buzzes sibling and father. Photos by Albert Ryckman.

MALHEUR BIRDING TRIP IN MAY
I am leading a fund-raising bird trip sponsored by, and based at, the Malheur Field Station. It is May 15-20. We will see Ferruginous and Swainson’s Hawks, Prairie Falcon, Golden Eagles, White Pelicans, Short-eared and Great Horned and Burrowing Owls, Loggerheasd Shrike, Sage Thrasher, Eastern Kingbird, perhaps early arrival Bobolink, Sandhill Cranes, Black Terns, Franklin’s Gulls, White-faced Ibis, Rock & Canyon Wren, Sagebrush and Brewer’s Sparrow, Cinnamon Teal, snipe, Wilson’s Phalarope, possible bittern. There are likely to be usual (Lewis’s Woodpecker, Evening Grosbeak) and unusual (any bird that migrates to northern Canada) migrants at the hotspots. We will bird the basin and foothills of Steens Mountain.
Interested? Call 541-493-2629.

SEPTEMBER

I am leading a fund-raising bird trip sponsored by, and based at, the Malheur Field Station. It is Sept. 8-13.   We will see Ferruginous and Swainson’s Hawks, Prairie Falcon, Golden Eagles, White Pelicans, Short-eared and Great Horned and Burrowing Owls, Sandhill Cranes, Black Terns, Franklin’s Gulls, Loggerheasd Shrike, Sage Thrasher White-faced Ibis, Rock & Canyon Wren, Horned Lark, Mountain Bluebird, Cinnamon Teal, snipe, Wilson’s Phalarope, possible bittern. There are likely to be usual (Lewis’s Woodpecker, Evening Grosbeak) and unusual (any bird that migrates to northern Canada) migrants at the hotspots. We will bird the basin and the entire Steens Mountain Loop.
Interested? Call 541-493-2629.

954 Ratcliff Drive SE, Marion, Oregon, US
Feb 5, 2023
15 species

Mourning Dove  22
Northern Flicker  2
California Scrub-Jay  4
American Crow  7
Black-capped Chickadee  2
Bushtit  20
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
European Starling  10
Varied Thrush  2
Lesser Goldfinch  1
American Goldfinch  40
Dark-eyed Junco  25
Golden-crowned Sparrow  2
White-throated Sparrow  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  1     myrtle