[obol] Fall Birds - neo-fallout
- From: Rob Conway <robin_birder@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: obol <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "tweeters@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <tweeters@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 2 Nov 2013 06:23:42 +0000
This morning I walked slowly (very slowly) along the Columbia dike near
Cottonwood Beach in Washougal. There were many more ducks and geese on the
river than I've seen in a long time. There were 3 Common Mergansers, a Hooded
Merganser in the dock/marina area, loads of Bufflehead and Common Goldeneye,
Mallards, scores of Canada Geese that kept taking off and landing just 100 feet
away or so, a single Greater White Fronted Goose, and a pair of squabbling GB
Herons. On the inland side there were 2 Western Meadowlarks (a first in this
location for me), a Raven chasing what I'm guessing were voles in a field (I
saw at least 10 voles crossing the dike), many American Crows, a raucous group
of Steller's Jays in the trees near the sewer plant, and 2 Bald Eagles
Overhead. Oh, and a Kestrel on the fence likely eyeing the same voles.
At home there were skeins of geese flying over all day long, as well as a group
of 7 Sandhill Cranes all in a diagonal line and calling loudly. Varied
Thrushes are now every day visitors tearing through the leaves we have yet to
rake, a single Robin (are there just fewer this year?), and a noisy Pacific
Wren. Yesteday I had an equally noisy Bewick's Wren actively feeding under the
junipers. Best bird of the day was a very light Peregrine Falcon that sat at
the top of a big fir tree, I think eyeing my feeder area and the hundreds of
finches, sparrows, juncos, and "my" mob of Stellers Jays and their cousins the
Scrub Jay murder crew. I have heard a GH Owl the last 3 nights, and both a
Western Screech Owl and what I am assuming is a Barred Owl (haven't spotted it)
or mayber even 2.
I sit most of the day watching the birds and fretting about the yardwork that I
probably need to hire someone to do. Still under doctors orders to avoid any
stress or strenous exercise, and I try to do just that. I'm thinking about
just leaving the leaves where they fall this year to start building up a
natural mulch - the birds enjoy the leaves flipping and checking for juicy bugs
and worms, so 2 birds with one lack of effort.
Rob
Rob Conway
Camas, WA
45.58°N 122.44°W - elevation 310 ft.
robin_birder@xxxxxxxxxxx
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