Hi all,
For today’s Salem Audubon Society field trip at Minto-Brown Island Park,
Fred, Kay and Barbara were joined by 17 birders, including a family with
youngsters, travelers from as far away as Seattle, and a noted wildlife
artist from Hubbard.
The morning air definitely had a cold bite, but at least the sky was clear
of clouds, and the warming sun was on the rise. We ventured forth as always.
Birds are warm-blooded animals like us humans. But unlike us, most of these
small creatures had enough sense to lay low, at least until the air
temperature rose above freezing. We succeeded in coaxing a few of them out
into the open with seed and warm cheers. In time the day warmed and the
birds started their morning feeding and singing.
As we walked south along the oxbow, the hammering of a Pileated Woodpecker
filled the air. With some repositioning we were able to see two of them
together on a snag before they flew together across the oxbow.
Other highlights of the morning included a mixed flock of songbirds on the
soft portion of the Blue Heron Trail. The mixed flock consisted of several
Brown Creepers, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Black-capped Chickadees,
White-breasted Nuthatches and a Downy Woodpecker. We had many good looks at
the Golden-crowned Kinglets. In the bright morning sun, their crowns glowed
like gold (see photos in online checklist link below).
In all, we saw 37 species. Not a bad showing for a cold, breezy, winter
morning.
For a complete of birds seen, see list below.
Tim Johnson
Upcoming:
- Birder’s Night with speaker Harry Fuller on Tuesday, March 12
- Songbird Workshops on March 16 and 30
- Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge field trip on Tuesday, March 19
- Cascades Gateway Park short field trip on Wednesday, March 27
Consult the Kestrel, SAS website or SAS Facebook page for details.
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Minto-Brown Island Park, Marion, Oregon, US
Mar 3, 2019 7:57 AM - 11:34 AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.762 mile(s)
37 species (+2 other taxa)
American Wigeon 8
Mallard 11
Green-winged Teal (American) 8
Bufflehead 3
California Quail 14
Pied-billed Grebe 10
Mourning Dove 3
Anna's Hummingbird 1 Male
gull sp. 2
Double-crested Cormorant 12
Great Blue Heron 5
Bald Eagle 3
Red-tailed Hawk 5
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 1
American Kestrel 2
Hutton's Vireo 2
Steller's Jay (Coastal) 2
California Scrub-Jay 3
American Crow 20
Black-capped Chickadee 13
Bushtit 35
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Brown Creeper 4
Bewick's Wren 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 5
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3
American Robin 26
European Starling 2
Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 2
White-crowned Sparrow 8
Golden-crowned Sparrow 10
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 7
Spotted Towhee 6
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S53346337
