Towheeblog

The first birds I saw today was our local Bushtit flock–they showed up before the official sunrise! Only a quartet of turkeys today–sorority of four hens. A buzz of mosquitoes, scads of earthworms as I worked around the roses. Hummers and male red-wings in territorial poses. A flock of cacklers circling and calling and fluid like water molecules as they move ac ross a windless sky. Varied Thrush before the window–howe could I ever look away?

Willow green:

A Harris’s Sparrow in Jackson County–photo from Peter Thiemann:

Also in Jackson County: Eurasian Wigeon–pic from Lee French:

Culture among humpback whales is apparently changing…do they have a Second Amendment problem, too? Click here.

954 Ratcliff Drive SE, Marion, Oregon, US
Feb 19, 2023
19 species

Wild Turkey  4
Mourning Dove  X
Steller’s Jay  1
California Scrub-Jay  5
American Crow  3
Black-capped Chickadee  3
Chestnut-backed Chickadee  1
Bushtit  20     first birds of the day, appearing at 650 before official sun rise
Varied Thrush  2
American Robin  1
House Finch  1
Lesser Goldfinch  X
American Goldfinch  X
Fox Sparrow  1
Dark-eyed Junco  30
Golden-crowned Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  1
Spotted Towhee  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler  1

Pringle Creek Community, Marion, Oregon, US
Feb 19, 2023
8 species

Anna’s Hummingbird  1
California Scrub-Jay  X
American Crow  X
European Starling  X
American Robin  25
House Finch  2
Dark-eyed Junco  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler  1     Audubon’s Warbler

Fairview Wetlands, Marion, Oregon, US
Feb 19, 2023
18 species

Cackling Goose  120
Canada Goose  4
Northern Shoveler  30
Mallard  X
Northern Pintail  60
Green-winged Teal  40
Ring-necked Duck  6
Bufflehead  4
American Coot  10
California Scrub-Jay  2
American Crow  5
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
European Starling  4
American Robin  20
Song Sparrow  1
Spotted Towhee  1
Red-winged Blackbird  20     males doing territorial displays, some females in attendance
Yellow-rumped Warbler  1     myrtle warbler