*Hello Birders:*
This is our *SAS Field Trip Summary for Ankeny Wildlife Refuge on* *Saturday,
November 21, 2015.*
Cold, clear morning started for many of us at 30° and getting warm to the
low 40s. Not a cloud. Some vestiges that the recent rain added to the
water table with visible, but still building field ponds. 10 birders
including one first time joiner from Keizer, Dominic, Marty, Pat, Joanne,
Don, John B. and Ken with Kay, Fred and myself gathered at the Overlook to
plan the loop around. Since raptors have been in the news around the
valley we would make our next stop at Ankeny Hill looking East and then
proceeding to spots where the sun would be behind us. There was much
anticipation from the group to re-find the White-throated Sparrow from
11-12-15 at the Buena Vista Ferry stop. This was an unfulfilled hope. Note
the ferry was closed on this date and vehicle travel at the ferry stop
included turn-arounds-more action than we wanted. Still the cold morning
even with sun did not favor us in getting what we saw as flocks of sparrows
up, long enough to id a lot of differences. We had one Lincoln's Sparrow
at Eagle Marsh seen by a few, and yet it replied without being seen with
its distinct call.
Finally, as cool as it was we had 55 species reveal themselves and it was
great to be in sunshine.
*Highlights:*
*We had a six raptor day with Rough-legged Hawk, American Kestrel,
Red-shouldered Hawk calling once and later in conflict with a Red-tail
Hawk, Bald Eagle, Norther Harrier and an unidentified falcon flyby in
distance. We did not see the Peregrine Falcon that has been loyal at the
snag at Pintail Marsh.
*It was evident that the 36 Tundra Swan presence was being supported
by recent rise in water table at Pintail Marsh. Ranger and management
effort here in the last three years was to establish the tuber food swans
prefer and rid the non-providing pond floor invasives.
*Good scoping participation found nine duck species when seven were
found on our scout 11/12. We could not re-find the Eurasian Wigeon from
11/12.
*The Black Phoebe found by Joanne at Eagle Marsh has not been seen
consistently on our trips. It was at the western corner behind the closed
gate. It was recorded at Pintail Marsh on 10/17 and at Eagle Marsh on
November 6th. It is possible this winter that the flycatcher may not be
seen if it resides on the closed trails this time of year.
*Number of Taxa: 55*
* Checklists included in this summary:*
(1): Jefferson, 6-82 Ankeny Hill Road Southeast - T*he parking lot
gathering at the Overlook @ 7:55 AM*
(2): US-OR-Jefferson-400-598 Ankeny Hill Rd SE - 44.7823x-123.0515 @ 8:37
AM *-* T*his is the spot looking east with the perched Rough-legged Hawk. *
(3): US-OR-Jefferson-2811-2945 Wintel Rd S - 44.7763x-123.0896 @ 8:53 AM *-*
T*his is Pintail Marsh. A Coyote was seen on the west berm.*
(4): US-OR-Jefferson-3023-3205 Wintel Rd S - 44.7779x-123.0959 @ 10:07 AM
*-* T*his is the Willow tree parking. We did not have Western Meadowlark
at this dependable site. *
(5): US-OR-Jefferson - 44.7696x-123.1444 – 10:31AM *- This is the Buena
Vista Ferry.*
(6): US-OR-Jefferson-2252-2580 Buena Vista Rd S *- *44.7933x-123.0900
@11:14 AM *- This is the parking southeast of the RR Track.*
(7): Ankeny NWR--Eagle Marsh-Scrape Pond @ 11:28 AM *-* T*his is Eagle
Marsh parking, the ditch wet area , the drives in and the across the road
hedge areas.*
(8): US-OR-Jefferson - 44.8024x-123.0716 @ 12:11 PM *- This is the corner
of Ankeny Hill and Liberty.*
*Here are the 55 species: Thanks to everyone who joined and assisted in
these field trip finds.*
2 Greater White-fronted Goose -- (3),(7)
1000 Cackling Goose (minima) -- (1)
202 Canada Goose (occidentalis/fulva) -- (1),(3),(4),(7)
16 Canada Goose (parvipes) -- (3)
36 Tundra Swan -- (1),(3)
3 Gadwall -- (3)
206 American Wigeon -- (3),(7)
175 Mallard -- (3),(7)
41 Northern Shoveler -- (3),(7)
218 Northern Pintail -- (3),(7)
571 Green-winged Teal -- (3),(7)
2 Lesser Scaup -- (3)
4 Bufflehead -- (3)
2 Hooded Merganser -- (3)
17 Double-crested Cormorant -- (5)
4 Great Blue Heron -- (1),(5),(6),(7)
2 Great Egret -- (1),(4)
2 Northern Harrier -- (1),(3)
3 Bald Eagle -- (1),(3)
1 Red-shouldered Hawk -- (3)
8 Red-tailed Hawk -- (1),(3),(4),(5),(6)
1 Rough-legged Hawk -- (2) this bird had a frosty and streaked look to its
head,relatively small bill, strong features in its face white upper chest,
and dark lower belly, longish tail with banding not well seen as we would
have liked. We did not see its tail nor take flight.
2 Killdeer -- (4)
2 Greater Yellowlegs -- (6)
412 Dunlin -- (3),(7)
36 Long-billed Dowitcher -- (6),(7)
2 Wilson's Snipe -- (6)
2 Eurasian Collared-Dove -- (1)
1 Belted Kingfisher -- (3)
1 Acorn Woodpecker -- (8)
2 Red-breasted Sapsucker -- (1),(4)
2 Downy Woodpecker -- (1),(7)
2 Northern Flicker -- (1),(3)
2 American Kestrel -- (1),(4)
1 Black Phoebe -- (7)
2 Western Scrub-Jay -- (3)
7 American Crow -- (1)
4 Black-capped Chickadee -- (1),(4)
2 White-breasted Nuthatch -- (1),(8)
3 Bewick's Wren -- (4),(5)
5 Ruby-crowned Kinglet -- (3),(4),(7)
1 American Robin -- (1)
16 European Starling -- (1),(3)
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) -- (7)
5 Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) -- (3)
7 White-crowned Sparrow -- (1),(3)
10 Golden-crowned Sparrow -- (1),(3)
25 Savannah Sparrow -- (3),(4),(5)
13 Song Sparrow -- (4),(5),(6),(7)
1 Lincoln's Sparrow -- (7)
3 Spotted Towhee -- (1),(4)
50 Red-winged Blackbird -- (3)
6 Brewer's Blackbird -- (6)
3 House Finch -- (5),(6)
17 American Goldfinch -- (5),(6)
*This Trip concludes the three Field Trips and 1 SAS Short we had in
November.*
*Join us in December and start calendaring for 2016. *
Sunday, December 6 - Ankeny WLR at 8:00 am at the Overlook;
Sunday, December 13 - SAS Short at Ankeny's Eagle Marsh at 9:00 am;
Wednesday, December 16 at Minto-Brown City Park at 8:00 am, 3rd
parking lot.
Then the *Christmas Bird Count *for the SAS Salem Circle on Saturday,
December 19. There are still Sectors that need participant counters and/or
you can participate if you are in the Circle by counting and submitting
your yard birds. To sign up for either, contact Barbara Dolan at
503-982-3204 and Tim Johnson at 503-507-8552.
*2016 includes:*
Wednesday, January 6 - Minto-Brown City Park at 8:00 am,
Sunday, January 17 - Ankeny WLR at 8:00 am,
Tuesday, January 26 - Cascade Gateway Park at 9:00 am.
*Thanks from Barbara Dolan and Fred Stephens*
