Hi all,
This morning at 07:30 I heard a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW singing on one of
the upland prairie restoration fields at Baskett Slough NWR, on the
southeast side of Baskett Butte. This guy seems to have been around
since mid-May, though might not be paired since he's been moving back
and forth between this spot and another restoration field to the east.
This morning he was singing near this point:
N 44.9695° W 123.2493
but sometimes he's in this area:
N 44.9674° W 123.2525°
SAVANNAH SPARROWS also use this field, and honest-to-goodness
GRASSHOPPERS are also out in force now, adding to the challenge of
finding this guy.
Again, even if the Grasshopper Sparrow is hard to find, these fields are
worth seeing just for the wildflowers and native grasses. Bluefield
Gilia, Oregon Sunshine, and Golden Paintbrush are all blooming (though
the paintbrush is nearly done), along with California Oatgrass, Roemer's
Fescue, and Blue Wildrye. MEADOWLARKS, BULLOCK'S ORIOLES, LAZULI
BUNTINGS, HOUSE WRENS and other birds are also singing around the edges
of the area.
I wasn't really paying attention to wetland birds, but from one point on
the southwest side of Baskett Butte, it was hard not to notice a GREAT
EGRET standing on one of the little islands north of the Coville Rd.
"narrows," and a couple of BLACK-NECKED STILTS among other birds way out
on the wetland south of there.
Happy birding,
Joel
--
Joel Geier
Camp Adair area north of Corvallis
