*SAS SHORTS: CASCADES GATEWAY PARK FIELD TRIP SUMMARY*
*March 30, 2016*
Hello Birders:
Fred led our SAS Shorts field trip to Cascades Gateway Park this
morning. It was a wonderful morning that was mostly sunny with
temperatures between 47 and 55 degrees. Twelve (12) other birders joined
Fred including a birder from Montana. We walked around Walter Wirth Lake
which was about a one mile walk. The habitat at the south end of the lake
was wonderful with oaks and conifers attracting numerous birds. We
identified (saw or heard) 38 species of birds. We saw a lot of neat bird
behavior and activity as noted below.
*Most notable sightings:*
· One *Osprey* made numerous attempts to catch a fish from Wirth
Lake. Many of us were mesmerized as the *Osprey* made three unsuccessful
attempts to get a fish. But the fourth attempt was successful and the
*Osprey* proudly flew away with its prize catch;
· We were surprised when a *Fox Sparrow* popped up on a blackberry cane
on the south end of the lake and perched there for quite a while. Everyone
was able to see it.
· We saw and heard one *Belted Kingfisher* on the east side of the
lake. The kingfisher gave its notorious rattle call as it flew along the
creek;
· We observed a couple of *Downy Woodpeckers* and a pair of *Northern
Flickers* along the south edge of the lake. The male *Northern Flicker* was
whittling away on a hole for a nest while the female flicker intently
watched his every move;
· There were several *Brown Creepers* and a *Red-breasted Nuthatch* in
the trees on the south part of the lake. It was nice that most all of the
birders got to see them;
· We also saw a *Yellow-rumped Warbler *and an *Orange-crowned Warbler*
. The *Orange-crowned Warbler* appeared towards the end of the walk on the
northeast side of the lake.
A complete list of today's birds follows. Our next SAS field trip will be
at Minto-Brown Island Park on* Monday, April 4th at 7:00 a.m. *Meet at
parking lot #3 at the end of Minto Island Road. The next *SAS Shorts* field
trip is at *Fairview Wetlands* on *Monday,* *April 25th at 5:30 p.m. *Please
join us if you can.
Mike Unger
Keizer, OR
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*Checklist Summary for March 30, 2016*
*Species: 38*
18 Cackling Goose
2 Canada Goose
2 Canada Goose (parvipes)
2 American Wigeon
32 Mallard
5 Lesser Scaup
3 Pied-billed Grebe
1 Double-crested Cormorant
1 Osprey
1 Bald Eagle
1 Red-tailed Hawk
60 American Coot
17 Glaucous-winged Gull
2 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
1 Mourning Dove
1 Anna's Hummingbird
1 Belted Kingfisher
2 Downy Woodpecker
2 Northern Flicker
2 Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)
3 Western Scrub-Jay
3 American Crow
2 Tree Swallow
1 Black-capped Chickadee
3 Bushtit
1 Red-breasted Nuthatch
3 Brown Creeper
4 Bewick's Wren
7 American Robin
6 European Starling
1 Orange-crowned Warbler
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
1 Fox Sparrow (Sooty)
3 Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)
7 Song Sparrow
3 Spotted Towhee
10 Red-winged Blackbird
5 Brewer's Blackbird
3 House Finch
1 House Sparrow
