Hi all Birders;
Today, Fred, Kay, Tim, and myself, with Rachel Mitchell, the teacher from
Jane Goodall School and students, Taylor, Julie, Ethan, Senica, and Hunter
scouted Minto-Brown City Park.This was the last time the students would
join us as they prepare ahead for a scientific paper from their experience
with our sightings since November. John Matthews joined us with his camera
One target bird was the previously seen Barred Owl. After parking lot
birding at #3, we took the route to the Oxbow, and the majority of us went
to the bridge and beyond only to hear John refound the owl with Tim. After
great looks at the Barred Owl, time was still available for the River Trail.
*Highlights included: *
*We had good looks at paired Red-tailed Hawks at Parking Lot #3; 2
Bald Eagles were in courtship display from the river trail with the prior
nest looking intact,but not active; a pair of American Kestrels were vocal
and after flying over head, the female could be seen sitting on the west
snag at the Oxbow where last year's nesting occurred.
*We heard and saw a pair of Wood Duck as they flushed-for us FOS since
winter began.
*We had good numbers of Golden-crowned Sparrow in 2 locations.
*The Lesser Scaup on the far side of the river became more and more
apparent with them surfacing from dives. Their plumage was bright and crisp.
*The rookery with 7 Great Blue Heron nests above the boathouse is in
tall cottonwood trees still visible without leaves.
*Bright Green contrast was provided pervasively through the woods
with Flowering Plum.
* High wind was predicted for the day and about 11:00 AM it picked up
to make the trip back from the River Trail a windy adventure.
*SAS Next Field Trips include the Following:*
March 6 is the Field Trip for Minto-Brown City Park. Meet in Parking
lot #3 at 8:00 am.
March 22 is the Field Trip for Ankeny WLR. We usually meet at the
Overlook, but if closed off, go to Eagle Marsh. Plan to start at 8:00 am.
March 30 is the SAS-Short, Cascade Gateway Park in Salem. Meet at
9:00-10:30
am.
Join the SAS Raptor Class at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife on
Saturday March 26, 10:00-12:00 pm. $10.00 for the class with Mike Unger.
Location is on 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive, SE, Salem. Reservations
requested at 503-588-7340. Or call Mike at 503-930-8998
Don't forget to come by the SAS booth at the 2016 Mid-Valley *Yard, Garden
and Home Show*, March 18th-20th at the Oregon Fairgrounds.
Thank you to the fine students who have joined us these last winter
months.
Barbara Dolan
*The following is the listing of species and observations. *
Mar 1, 2016
8:01 AM
Traveling
3.50 miles
215 Minutes
*Comments:* This was a scout trip for Minto Brown with Rachel and students
from Jane Goodall middle school. This is their last session and they will
be giving a science report on their findings in the future from trip
experiences. One of the target birds today was to see if we could re-find
the Barred Owl . It was re found by John Matthews as he and Tim returned
to the parking lot early; we all benefited by returning from the fields as
we headed to the oxbow to join them .We had a good day with variation of
raindrops and towards the end at the river trail the wind began developing
and gusted to 30 or so mph Giving challenges about facing the wind on
return.
49 Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima)
2 Wood Duck
7 Mallard
2 Green-winged Teal
37 Lesser Scaup
37 Common Merganser
5 Pied-billed Grebe
7 Double-crested Cormorant
7 Great Blue Heron -- 5 adults with guarding near and 1 visibly sitting
Heron on one nest ; above the boathouse at the river trail there are seven
nests.
1 Accipiter sp.
4 Bald Eagle -- 1 adults to the oxbow and 2 by the river in courting
display with swirls in the air and banking could see that both are adults.
3 Red-tailed Hawk
1 Glaucous-winged Gull
4 Mourning Dove
1 Barred Owl -- Found just past the kiosk at about 9:30 am to the east on
the main asphalt trail to the bridge out of parking lot #3. On a horizontal
branch midway. Appeared to be sleeping at times, but turning its head and
opening eyes intermittently. Seen by all in group including students, Tim
,John Matthews, Rachel, the teacher,and students for pics.
2 Downy Woodpecker
Red-breasted Sapsucker-seen by Tim and John while looking for the owl.
2 Northern Flicker
3 American Kestrel -- 1 on the oxbow snag of prior year nest.
1 Hutton's Vireo
2 Steller's Jay
3 Western Scrub-Jay
4 American Crow
11 Black-capped Chickadee
24 Bushtit
7 Brown Creeper
4 Pacific Wren
3 Bewick's Wren
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
81 American Robin
7 European Starling
5 Yellow-rumped Warbler
1 Fox Sparrow (Sooty)
2 White-crowned Sparrow
27 Golden-crowned Sparrow
9 Song Sparrow
4 Spotted Towhee
4 Red-winged Blackbird
3 House Finch
1 Pine Siskin
Number of Taxa: 39
