Towheeblog

The small birds seemed almost oblivious as it began to snow on our garden around 1145AM. “Snow what!” they seemed to grumble. Even the biggies showed up–fifteen turkeys.

Bushtits on suet, male Lesser Goldfinch next to junco, female flicker, female thrush, starling in the snow. After the snow had fallen and then melted, bird action increased. A female House Sparrow came by, first of that species here this year. Also, first time for a PAIR of Bewick’s Wrens to show up at the same time.

A late afternoon visit to Capitol Lake turned up little, seven Ruddy Ducks. Plus mallards, coots, pied-billed. And a nutria. How many miles did that creature’s have to hike to get there? Human agency involved? Could they smell the lake a mile away? There’s not even a large creek nearby. Mystery.

Here’s a fine shot of Yellow-rumped Warbler, Audubon not myrtle, here in south Salem. Photo by Sophia Wood:

The warbler in our garden these days is a myrtle, with the white chin.

Illegal aliens coming across the US border…from the NORTH! Four-footed and big eaters, too. Click here.

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, 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.

PHOTO TRIP: this trip is already filled.  IT’s May 31-June 4

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, 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 22, 2023
22 species

Wild Turkey  15
Mourning Dove  32
Northern Flicker  1
Steller’s Jay  1
California Scrub-Jay  5
American Crow  X
Black-capped Chickadee  2
Bushtit  20
Bewick’s Wren  2     together as pair
European Starling  2
Varied Thrush  2
American Robin  3
House Sparrow  1
House Finch  1
Lesser Goldfinch  X
American Goldfinch  40
Fox Sparrow  1
Dark-eyed Junco  30
Golden-crowned Sparrow  2
White-throated Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  1     myrtle