Towheeblog

That could be first family that nested near our garden–mom, dad and two young Bushtits at our suet blocks this afternoon? But they all seemed mature. And Dr. Sarah Sloane, the Bushtit Expert, is in Oregon now studying these guys. Her team has yet to find any young. Quartet feeding, good to see. We await fledglings.
Dr. Sloane is giving the Salem Audubon program next month…on Bushtits…don’t miss it…it will be zoomed.

Click on any image to make it larger, the Bushtits will stay small no matter what you do…

I was closer to a Lincoln’s Sparrow today than any other time when I was also aware the bird was around. Our visitor came right up near the front windows…but even then he kept partially hidden or screened from view. Never blatant, like the Coop I’ll show you next. I love the last Linc…looking straight at the camera it appears.

Coop, before being dispatched by crows:

Just as close, and nearly as difficult as the Lincoln’s Sparrow–today’s orange-crown:

Then there were several in-your-face warblers–flitting about, running around, zooming overhead–never still for more than 3.2 seconds:

Riverfront eagle:

At 615PM two young male turkeys wandered into our garden, first turks this month. Adult females off somewhere safe having nests and nestlings.

California Condors dying of avian flu–details if you click here.

954 Ratcliff Drive SE, Marion, Oregon, US
Apr 25, 2023
23 species

Wild Turkey 2
Mourning Dove  2
Cooper’s Hawk  1
Downy Woodpecker x drumming
Northern Flicker  1
Steller’s Jay  1
California Scrub-Jay  X
American Crow  X
Black-capped Chickadee  2
Bushtit  4     family group
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
European Starling  3
House Finch  X
Lesser Goldfinch X
American Goldfinch  X
White-crowned Sparrow  1
Golden-crowned Sparrow  2
White-throated Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  1
Lincoln’s Sparrow  1
Orange-crowned Warbler  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  6

Salem Riverfront Park, Marion, Oregon, US
Apr 25, 2023
13 species

Canada Goose  8
Mallard  6
Bufflehead  2
Pied-billed Grebe  1
Glaucous-winged Gull  1
Turkey Vulture  3
Osprey  1
Bald Eagle  1
American Crow  2
Tree Swallow  X
Violet-green Swallow  X
Barn Swallow  X
European Starling  1