The Ground Squirrel Gazette
April 23, 2019
Highlights: Today seemed slow at first, with one noisy male Rufous hummer the
highlight of my morning circuit of the HQ complex. Late in the morning it
became clear that kinglet numbers had crept up a bit, then Mitch Ratzlaff found
the FOY Yellow Warbler here and Don Powers’ George Fox U bird students were
able to see them. There were two. Warblers, not students. There will be more
of both. Late afternoon was very productive, with FOY Bank Swallow at the pond,
FOY Dusky Flycatcher in the shrubbery and FOY Calliope Hummingbird (male) in
the ne corner.
Enormous numbers of male Yellowheads continue – the sound can be deafening. I
trust they will start setting up territories soon and we will see them off. At
least one Rough-leg continues, often visible north of HQ. Ibis numbers are
increasing.
I am setting up a dripper/bath in the NE corner across the road from the
museum. That should be up in a day or two and bring pleasure to migrants and
birders. A nice week ahead and the weekend forecast is good.
For those who scorn April’s potential for vagrants, a Worm-eating Warbler was
photoed in e Idaho yesterday.
Fields has very little water so far. Hart Mtn. road is in good shape.
MI: minimal
Alan Contreras
acontrer56@xxxxxxxxx
Eugene, Oregon
TEMPORARY ADDRESS:
Malheur NWR
36391 Sodhouse Ln
Princeton OR 97721
www.alanlcontreras.com
http://osupress.oregonstate.edu/book/edge-of-awe
