*SALEM AUDUBON SOCIETY FIELD TRIP *
*AT MINTO-BROWN ISLAND CITY PARK*
*October 1, 2019*
*COMMENTS: *
Paul Evans led 15 birders from Salem, Dallas, Keizer and McMinnville
joining this Salem Audubon Field Trip on a glistening day of sunshine, with
morning cool about 40° most places. Roxy Evans got nice pics to verify many
birds that added to the enjoyment of the species we saw. We first jumped
out to the 3rd parking hedge row and field to enjoy the sunlit birds. Then
we came back through the parking to proceed toward the arched bridge
birding parallel to the oxbow. Following this trail and oxbow we noted
marked protected areas for turtle species. We continued to the fenced waste
area circling back to the backside of the oxbow rejoining the trail over
the bridge and returning.
Today we missed Fred Stephens. We began announcing the interest for the
Christmas Bird Count, this park being a notable sector led by Fred.
*HIGHLIGHTS:*
The hedge row at parking lot #3 was busy with birds exciting us with
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, the bright LESSER GOLDFINCH flocking with arrival
of winter migrant GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW.
The young RED-TAILED HAWK perched on the snag seen from the arched bridge
was photographed by Roxy Evans and essential for clarifying after the field
trip that its orange-red tag of *F/C* banded and tagged at PDX on 9/24/19.
We did comparative listening of the calls of SOOTY FOX SPARROW, DARK-EYED
JUNCO, and other sparrow calls to nail down arrival of FOX SPARROW.
Everyone was prepared for the salient features when we confirmed 2 SOOTY
FOX SPARROW at the dump site fence line, alerted by their "smack" calls.
New species for some of group. Be alert, there are probably, with
confidence, more in the park than noted today. On field trip loops in the
past we have had as many as 30+.
Barbara Dolan and Paul Evans
44 species (+3 other taxa)
Cackling Goose (minima) (Branta hutchinsii minima) 40
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) (Branta canadensis moffitti/maxima) 22
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 2 Male and female.
American Wigeon (Mareca americana) 1 Male.
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 17
duck sp. (Anatinae sp.) 2
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) 2
Vaux's Swift (Chaetura vauxi) 3
Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) 1
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 1
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 2
Great Egret (Ardea alba) 1 Water low backside trail of oxbow nw of
arched bridge. This species not often seen here with deeper water.
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 3
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 4 * F/C on orange-red wing
tag*. Perched
on snag, seen well by all, at the arched bridge. Confirmation with Roxy
Evans photo, sent to Carole Hallett, Wildlife Biologist, Pacific Habitat
Services. This young Red-tailed Hawk was banded and tagged then released
near Stayton by PDX wildlife staff on 9/24/19. The purpose of this
relocation is that this bird thrives in its hunting for field voles, well
away from airports.
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1
Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber) 2
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 5
Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 12
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) 1 Flying about fenced dump area.
Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) 5
California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica) 5
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 5
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 18
Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens) 2
Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) 40
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 4
swallow sp. (Hirundinidae sp.) 20
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 7
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 1
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) 2
Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) 11
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 5
Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) 2 Vocal.
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 4
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 12 Sporadic in areas.
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 10
Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) 2
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 11
Fox Sparrow (Sooty) (Passerella iliaca [unalaschcensis Group]) 2
Visual in downed tree and cut branches lying at west end of trail parallel
and debris next to fence-much blackberry removal here. Counter-smack calls
with bird in shrubs next to trail that it also joined.
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) (Junco hyemalis [oreganus Group]) 2
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) 5
Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla) 10
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 9 1 with leucistic patches.
Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) 9
Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata) 1 On sunny side of hedge
working with other birds, finch, lesser goldfinches, white and
golden-crowned sparrow. Across from the gravel part of the parking lot #3 .
passerine sp. (Passeriformes sp.) 2 Over dump
