*SAS Minto-Brown Island Park Bird Walk Report*
*April 8, 2024*
This morning, I led the Salem Audubon Minto-Brown Island Park bird walk. I
was joined by seven (7) other birders. The temperatures ranged from 45 to
48 degrees with scattered clouds for most of the walk. The winds got worse
as the morning went on with seven to 10 m.p.h. winds. We walked 2.03 miles
as we covered the east end of the park including near the Osprey and Bald
Eagle nests. The bird activity was particularly good for this time of year
as we observed (saw or heard) 42 species.
The highlights were as follows:
· The highlights of the day included seeing a *Bald Eagle* on its
nest and seeing two *Osprey* on their nest, both east of parking lot #3.
· The raptor activity was exceptionally good. Besides the Bald
Eagle and Osprey, we saw a *Cooper’s Hawk,* *American Kestrel*, *Turkey
Vultures *(12*)*, and *Red-tailed Hawk*. The *Osprey* were quite noisy at
times with their call.
· We only observed two of the five expected woodpecker species
including *Northern Flicker *and a* Pileated Woodpecker.* The Pileated
Woodpecker flew across the path from the trees west of the equipment shed
towards the south.
· We only observed two warbler species including *Orange-crowned
Warbler and Yellow-rumped Warbler*. This was a little disappointing since
we saw three different warbler species during our early April bird walk in
2022. That day we saw Common Yellowthroat, Wilson’s Warbler, and Yellow
Warbler. Although, it may be a little early for most of the warblers.
· There were quite a few sparrows around, especially in and around
the blackberry hedges. The *White-crowned Sparrows* seemed like they were
everywhere and were singing their hearts out. There were a few *Golden-crowned
Sparrows* hanging out with *Dark-eyed Juncos*. The other sparrows
included *Savannah
Sparrow*, *Song Sparrow*, and *Spotted Towhee*.
· We have not observed any flycatchers yet as it is early*. *
The upcoming events include:
*Sunday, April 21, 8:00 AM* – *Ankeny* *National Wildlife Refuge – *Meet at
the Ankeny Hill Nature Center, 130 Ankeny Hill Rd., Jefferson
*Thursday, April 25, 9:00 AM* – *Willamette Mission State Park *-- Meet in
the Filbert Grove Day-use area. A state park pass is required for this
location. (Single-day permits can also be purchased for $5 from the fee
station near the park entrance.)
Mike Unger
Keizer, OR
*Minto-Brown Island Park Checklist Summary for April 8, 2024*
*Identified Species: 42*
6 Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima)
7 Mallard
7 Ring-necked Duck
7 Bufflehead
8 California Quail
4 Mourning Dove
1 Anna's Hummingbird
2 Killdeer
2 Double-crested Cormorant
4 Great Blue Heron
12 Turkey Vulture
3 Osprey
1 Cooper's Hawk
1 Bald Eagle
2 Red-tailed Hawk
1 Pileated Woodpecker
6 Northern Flicker
1 American Kestrel
4 Steller's Jay
6 California Scrub-Jay
3 American Crow
2 Black-capped Chickadee
1 Tree Swallow
1 Barn Swallow
1 swallow sp.
2 Bushtit
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 Red-breasted Nuthatch
3 Bewick's Wren
24 European Starling
17 American Robin
2 House Finch
1 Pine Siskin
3 Lesser Goldfinch
5 American Goldfinch
12 Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)
18 White-crowned Sparrow
7 Golden-crowned Sparrow
5 Savannah Sparrow
4 Song Sparrow
8 Spotted Towhee
2 Orange-crowned Warbler
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
See the eBird list here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S167738305
