Thursday's Bird Watch!

This is a first-year juvenile White-crowned Sparrow, one of a mixed group of four adults and juveniles we spotted on a bird walk on September 28th in the shrubbery of the west-end of DRV's Assisted Living building. You may not recognize this as a White-crowned Sparrow because it's a dull colored juvenile instead of the sharp contrasting white and black crown of an adult. We have White-crown Sparrows scattered throughout DRV, and this juvenile is proof of their successful nesting this year. 
 

Seeking Solace

 

Inspiration Garden at Mt. Fir Park in Independence is a favorite birding location for us. We went there this morning to seek solace in these tyrannical Trump times. There were no ICE agents lurking in the parking lots, nor military helicopters overhead, only the drone of a small private plane. People were walking their dogs; volunteers were working at trimming the shrubs. Birds sang; flowers still continue to bloom. Ash Creek lies placid, awaiting the coming fall rains. The air was fresh, the sun was shining, all was right with the world. We identified birds, took photos, and made an eBird List. All the lies, hate and greed of this administration seemed miles away. The leaves will die and fall to the ground; we wait with hope for the magic of new life to fill our world once again. 

baby Turkeys wait for their mom.

Sunflowers wait to feed the finches

Fernhill Wetlands

 Dallas Retirement Village residents Vern and Anne Beeson put together a bus trip to Fern Hill Wetlands in Forest Grove. DRV provided the bus and driver, Lane. Fourteen residents braved the rainy weather for this adventure. Enroute, we made a stop at the Carlton Bakery for some extra energy. Fern Hill is a part of more than 700 acres in Forest Grove owned by Clear Water Service for water resource management. Jeanette and I, with our friend and fellow resident, Dan Sewell, did the Fernhill Lake Loop, putting together an impressive bird list which you can see here. 

Greater Yellowlegs

Wilson's Snipe

After everyone got to explore as much as they wanted of the impressive grounds, the trails, and the ponds, we boarded the bus to go to McMenamins Grand Lodge for lunch. 

Gathering Time for Vultures

This morning Jeanette and I took a drive south of Dallas on the Kings Valley Highway, making a stop at the historic Ritner Bridge, a Polk County Park. This Turkey Vulture was spreading its wings to warm-up in the morning sun, preparing for flight. With a wingspan of five and half feet, it's an impressive sight.  It's that time of year when Turkey Vultures bunch up to fly south for the winter. On this day we counted 17 at this location, circling around forming a loose group.   

 

Thursday's Bird Watch

My guess is that most people will recognize this bird as a Turkey. In the birding world, in order to separate this from the domestically raised Turkey, this is known as a Wild Turkey. This is one of ten Wild Turkeys we saw here at Dallas Retirement on Sep. 17th. Wild Turkeys are seasonal visitors here at DRV, continuing to hang around until early Springtime when they disappear to bread and nest in a more isolated area, and then in a couple of months reappear here with new young ones in tow.  Here is a link to our eBird list for that morning.  

Sarah Helmick Park

My choice for birding this morning was Sarah Helmick State Park. I have said many times; place is almost more important than the birds for me.  And this park is a good example. I come here for the comfort, as in an old shirt well worn. It is well maintained by Oregon State Parks and rarely crowded. It is a quiet escape. We first birded here over ten years ago on March 25, 2014. I have now birded here 45 times, identifying 88 individual species of birds. It is also a spot steeped in history.  Sarah Helmick and her husband came over the Oregon Trail in 1845, taking out a Donation Land Claim in 1850. The Helmick family donated a portion for a park to the State of Oregon in 1922. 
 

Independence Osprey Update

It's fair to say the most watched Osprey nest this year in Polk County is the nest at the Riverview Park in Independence next to the Independence Hotel. The reason is simply because it can be watched via a camera. The result is that a large number of persons get to see it from the comfort of their homes, or the convivence of their phones. There have been some tough years watching this nest fail again and again, but this year was somewhat of a success.  The adults managed to mate and successfully hatch two eggs.  The first chick to hatch had the advantage, and the second chick a few days later was always behind in feeding and growth, and in fledging. The second one ended up failing to leave the nest successfully.  The adults, as is normal, where the first to head south for the winter. The successful juvenile continued to hang around the nest for or a while, but then no one had seen it for a number of days. Jeanette's sister and brother-in law, Patty and Kordell Blair, while staying at the hotel, notified us of a successful sighting of an Osprey. Yesterday I went in search, and I found it just across the river in a tree. This is this photo. I am pleased to have a record of its existence. Its departure could happen any day for his journey south.