Towheeblog

Just after 11 AM today a strong wave of wind swept over our garden in south Salem. It carried with it a downpour of small raindrops. But that also brought something marvelous, a fall-out. We often get one or two robins on our small lawn. This time–dozens. And the last time I saw a waxwing here was the first week of November. I note they did show up last February as well, but not regularly.

By 11:30 the wind had moved, so too the waxwings. The residue was damp grass and dozens of robins. The small garden denizens were flummoxed. What’s a junco to do with a rotund, bouncing, aggressive Alaskan robin with a bright orange chest?

California: almonds or salmon? Greed or nature? Click here for look at the conflict.

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, Loggerhead 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, Loggerhead 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 27, 2023
17 species

Mourning Dove  20
Northern Flicker  1
Steller’s Jay  1
California Scrub-Jay  4
American Crow  6
Black-capped Chickadee  2
Bushtit  20
Varied Thrush  2
American Robin  650
Cedar Waxwing  20
House Finch  3
Lesser Goldfinch  X
American Goldfinch  30
Fox Sparrow  1
Dark-eyed Junco  30
Golden-crowned Sparrow  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  1