Bird Ramblings - Siskins

I want to extend a big Thank You to DRV resident Bonnie Pickett who lives in Garden Home #1. She does a great job with bird feeders in her backyard. This is a Pine Siskin I photographed at one of her feeders on October 31st. See our Checklist here. Pine Siskins can be seen here year around albeit in small numbers, but it's the huge flocks that arrive around October and November that always catch my attention. The majority will leave again in the Spring for higher elevations in the Cascades, Coast Range and further north to Canada for the breeding season. The number of birds fluctuates, with good numbers some years and small numbers in other years. 
 

HOPE IS BACK !

Our Coachmen Pixel van "Hope" is back and taking us on bird watching adventures again. Yesterday's location of choice was Huddleston Fish Pond in Hampton Park in Willamina. Jeanette and I first visited this former log pond for Hampton Plywood Mill to fish from our canoe over 20 years ago. Years ago, we switched from fishing to birding, and made our first birding trip here in January 2014.This trip was number 104. Yesterday's trip was possibly one of our best with 34 different species identified. See our observation list and photos here.

 

Bird Ramblings - Hawk

On Tuesday the 27th of October while Jeanette and I were looking for birds along the paved path on the west-end of the Rickreall Creek Trail System here in Dallas we heard the distinctive cry of "keeah-keeah-keeah" of a Red-shouldered Hawk. We recognized it immediately despite not being able to see it. We were pleased to find it in this tree close by and get this photo. This colorful hawk is smaller than a Red-tailed Hawk, but larger than an American Kestrel. Over the years we have seen Red-shouldered Hawks along the entire length of the Rickreall Trail System here in Dallas. Click here for our check list for this trip.
 

Van Update

 We picked-up our 2026 Coachmen Pixel 1.8 van on Monday, November 2nd. We have been without it since June 23rd. For the last three days we have been busy reacquainting ourselves with its many features and packing it up with the necessities for van life. Our plan is to be able to head to California and Arizona for a visit with family and friends later this month. Today we experimented with using the van's Convection Microwave Oven Air Fryer to make pizza! Our first experience with an air fryer, and Jeanette was able to figure it out and we enjoyed a pizza for our lunch while parked in our parking-space here at Dallas Retirement Village.

Bird Ramblings - Sparrow

During a morning bird walk through Dallas Retirement Village last week we were surprised to find the busiest bird activity was at the west-end of the Assisted Living building. A kind soul had put up a bird feeder. Black-capped Chickadees, Dark-eyed Juncos, and Red-breasted Nuthatches were busy taking seeds and burying them in the bark of the nearby cherry trees. Three Wild Turkeys nonchalantly passed by on the lawn. A California Scrub-Jay was busy burying nuts under the shrubbery. In all we counted 16 different species. The best photo of the day was this Golden-crowned Sparrow that posed for this picture on the retaining wall. Here is our bird list.
 

Bird Ramblings - Scrub-Jay

I got lucky to catch this California Scrub-Jay carrying an oak tree acorn in its bill here in Dallas Retirement Village on the 12th of October. It was sitting atop a streetlight at the intersection of Tilgner and Brentwood Avenues. California Scrub-Jays are year-round residents of DRV. They can be seen here literally every month of the year and are easily noticed with their raucous calls. Fall is the time of year when they are busy carrying acorns io hidden locations in flower beds and under shrubbery to bury for eating throughout the Winter. 
 

Monmouth Recreational Park

Jeanette looking for birds

Yesterday we went bird watching at a newly constructed boardwalk in the Monmouth Recreational Park. This large multi-purpose park, located in the nearby town of Monmouth, is made up of baseball fields, tennis courts, dog parks, and skate park areas. Most important to us is this new boardwalk and shelter built over a marshy area which is perfect for bird watching! We enjoyed our time there and made the following eBird Observation List. This for sure is high on our list for return visits. 

 

Bird Ramblings - Turkeys

Last Saturday while looking for birds here at Dallas Retirement Village we happened to cross paths with DRV resident Greg Hatton. While showing him the tree on Tilgner Ave that the Red-breasted Sapsuckers like to use, three Wild Turkeys crossed the street and into the parking lot in front of the Assisted Living building. This photo of one of the Turkeys appears to be a young male. Notice the developing red throat wattles and the long breast beard. I know many of our DRV residents enjoy seeing the Wild Turkeys which will continue to hang out here until Spring when they leave to seek out a more secluded area for nesting.
 

Bird Ramblings - Eagle

 On Sunday, September 27th, while attending the Walk to End Alzheimer's event at the Salem Riverfront Park, Jeanette and I did a bit of birdwatching and got this photo of a Bald Eagle. Actually, we identified 30 different species of birds. You can see our observation list here. I know Bald Eagle are a favorite for most people, and coincidentally this was the best photo of the day. Their large size and distinctive white head and tail make for an easy identification. They are year around birds here in the Willamette Valley and love to hang out along the Willamette River where they can prey on fish and ducks. 

Bird Ramblings - Sapsucker

I finally got a photo of a returning, Red-breasted Sapsucker on September 20th, after getting only a couple of quick glimpses during the previous two weeks. This is a seasonal phenomenon. They vanish from Dallas Retirement Village in late April to find a suitable tree with a cavity for nesting. Then, as expected, they return in September to drill holes in their favorite tree on Tigner Ave. They will spend the winter licking up the sap that oozes out of the holes, and also eating hapless insects that get caught in the sticky sap. Anna's Hummingbirds will also make secret visits for a quick bit of sap. 
 

Bird Ramblings - Sparrows

Last Friday, the 18th of September, Jeanette and I went to check the birds at the Salem Riverfront Park. We were pleased to find 29 different species. Here is our checklist. The bird that posed the best for us was this Golden-crowned Sparrow that popped up out the blackberry bushes. You can tell from the red stains on its bill that it has been eating berries. Golden-crowned Sparrows are basically winter sparrows, and we were reminded that it's the time of year they show up. Last year at Dallas Retirement Village they were first seen in the Fall on September 17th, and then last seen in the Spring on May 3rd. Keep an eye out for them this Winter, they are quite often mixed in with White-crowned Sparrows.
 

Bird Ramblings - Woodpeckers

Downy Woodpeckers are the smallest of our Woodpeckers and also one of the more common. While birding in the Delbert Hunter Arboretum on Sunday Sept 13th, our phone app "Merlin" picked up the Downey's call. We searched for 10 minutes before we finally found her on this snag. We know its's a female because it lacks the red patch on the back of the head that so easily identifies the male. We are so fortunate to have the great birding locations of the Arboretlum and Dallas City Park so close to Dallas Retirement Village.

Bird Ramblings - Goldfinches

It's that time of year when American Goldfinches are filling up on Sunflower seeds from the Community Garden adjacent to the Village Apartments here at Dallas Retirement Village. They are a common species here at DRV especially in early September when they can easily be seen in large number when the Sunflowers mature. This Goldfinch looks a little ragged but is simply molting into its non-breeding plumage.

 

Bird Ramblings - Starlings

 This is a European Starling, one of the most common birds to be seen here at Dallas Retirement Village, virtually seen here every month of the year. This photo was taken last Friday, see Checklist. It shows the uniquely heavy spotting of the non-breeding plumage. We are more used to seeing them in their breeding plumage in which they are almost totally black with a bright yellow beak.  This is not a native bird. They were introduced to the United States in New York's Central Park in the 1890's and are now spread throughout the United States.

Bird Ramblings - Vultures

It's a busy time for Turkey Vultures. Recently we counted over 30 of them in some open fields while driving home to Dallas from Salem. They were busy picking up small rodent carcasses exposed from the field harvesting machinery. Think of the Vultures as the clean-up crew. In fact, they have been working all summer at keeping our roads clear of roadkill. Soon they will take flight and head South for the winter. I really haven't taken a good photo of Turkey Vultures this summer, so I dug into my files and found this photo taken in California some years ago. It shows the bare red skin of the head that is so helpful in digging through larger dead carcasses. 

Bird Ramblings - Pelicans

This juvenile American White Pelican was photographed at Cottonwood Pond in nearby Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge on August 13th along with a number of other Pelicans. Once an unusual bird to be seen in the Willamette Valley, in the last decade they have become a more common sight. Now is a perfect time to get to see them, come September they will be leaving to migrate South for the winter. Because of the current construction on Highway 22, I would recommend going via Rickreall, taking Highway 99 north, and then west on Coville Rd. to Cottonwood Pond on the right-hand side, also known as Traverner's Marsh. 
 

Beach Birthday Bash

August 18th was Jeanette's Birthday. It was the "Big 80", and at her request we did an overnight at the historic Sylvia Hotel at Nye Beach in Newport with Jeanette's brother Bill, and Jeanette's sister Patty and her husband Kordel. We all met up for lunch at Nana's Irish Pub. After check-in at the hotel, we went for a walk at Nye Beach. 

Of course, I can't walk on the beach without counting and photographing birds. Here is our Check List. After a nice walk on the beach, we walked over to the nearby Allred Hotel for a very nice dinner with a great view of the ocean.

The next morning after breakfast at The Sylvia, we drove over to the South Jetty for a walk on the jetty and the beach, and of course some more birding. Here is our Check List. We finished off our morning with a delightful lunch at Clearwater Restaurant with interesting Sea Lion watching and passing fishing boats.

  

Bird Ramblings - Bluebirds

Last Saturday, August the 8th, was "house cleaning day" at the Western Bluebird nesting box located at the Pavilion in the Dallas Retirement Village. The mother bluebird is shown removing a fecal sac, which is a white coated sack that surrounds the baby bird's waste. Bluebirds keep one of the cleanest nests of songbirds, and this is a daily task necessary to take care of the four baby birds in the nest. Both the male and the female share in the work of bringing food in and carrying out the fecal sacs.  
 

Siletz Bay NWR

Tuesday, August 4th we attempted to escape the extreme heat and smoke of the Willamette Valley with a trip to the Lincoln City area. It was cooler, but still a considerable amount of smoke. We concentrated mainly on the Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge area, with this first stop at the Siletz Keys, an easily overlooked location with a small parking lot. 

The first bid I spotted was this Great Blue Heron. Not so sharp looking, it is actually an immature, still lacking the white stripe on top of its head.

Next, I spotted this Great Egret, notable because they have become so much more common in the last two decades as their populations have expanded north.

Here is the link to our Checklist. We also birded at Alder Island, just on the other side of Highway 101. Here is our Checklist for Alder Island.

Bird Ramblings - Doves

On July 30th I photographed this pair of Eurasian Collared-Doves as they were sharing a romantic moment atop the roof of The Lodge. Eurasian Collared-Doves are somewhat unique in that they can breed year-round. They have already bee successful in nesting once this summer and possibly more. The amount of time they are spending in this courtship has me convinced they will soon be setting up another nest site soon. 
 

Bird Ramblings - Sapsucker

 This is a Red-breasted Sapsucker, which is a member of the Woodpecker Family (Picidae). In our recent daily trips to the Dallas City Pyark we became quite familiar with Acorn Woodpeckers, and in fact I have recently feature then three times as you may well remember. During this time, we have been surprised to find Red-breasted Sapsuckers using some of the same trees that the Acorn Woodpeckers were using. This photo of this Red-breasted Sapsucker was taken at Dallas City Park on July 22nd. It can easily be differentiated from the Acorn Woodpeckers by the bold white wing patch.

Bird Ramblings - Bluebirds

Back on the 5th of July, Jeanette and I were doing a bird walk here at Dallas Retirement Village when we stopped to take a breather at The Pavillion. While we were resting on the couch, this male Western Bluebird made an inspection of a nearby nesting box and then stopped right in front of us! We were surprised because it has been a tough year for Western Bluebirds here at DRV. In spite of the fact that there were multiple nesting boxes available, I don't know of any that were actually successful nest sites.
 

Bird Ramblings - Woodpeckers

It's probably apparent that I have become slightly obsessed with the Acorn Woodpeckers in the Dallas City Park. But it's one of those things that the more you know, the more you discover there is to learn. It all began back in the middle of June when Jeanette and I were sitting on a bench in the park and saw an Acorn Woodpecker fly to a wooden snag along the creek. As we watched we saw one fly to a nesting cavity close by. The next week I got a photo of the male bringing a mouth full of bugs to the nest site. We know from past experience that Acorn Woodpeckers live, breed, and nest as a colony, and that they store acorns to use in the wintertime in holes bored in trees and power poles. Look closely at this photo taken on July 9th and notice the small circular hole in front of this Acorn Woodpecker, which will probably receive an acorn sometime this fall. This power pole is located next to the park on Robinhood Drive off of Allgood Street.  
 

Revisiting Darrow Bar

Yesterday Jeanette and I went for a bird walk at Darrow Bar an eBird Hotspot located along the Willamette River Greenway. We first birded here on February 24th of 2014 after moving to Salemtowne. On our revisit yesterday we made a checklist, which I was surprised to find it was our 55th checklist for this location. Here is yesterday's checklist. We took the short loop, stopping at the bench for a rest, skipping the extension to South and the extension to the North. We left determined to return again soon.

 

Bird Ramblings - Hummingbirds

 I have been getting quite a few reports on hummingbird activity here at Dallas Retirement Village recently. Here is a pair of Anna's Hummingbirds taken on the 23rd of June in the Central Courtyard of the Lodge. The male on the left and the female on the right were busy with breeding activities. He appears, based on his plumage, to be an immature male, so not sure how successful their breeding attempt will be, and July generally marks the end of nesting season. We will be keeping an eye out to see what happens,

Bird Ramblings - Woodpecker

In a follow-up of last week's feature of an Acorn Woodpecker in the Dallas City Park, Jeanette and I returned to our favorite creek-side bench on June 20th in hopes of getting a photo of the Acorn Woodpeckers coming and going at their cavity nest site. We lucked out and got this photo of the male bringing a mouthful of insects to their cavity nest. We continued to watch as both the male and the female repeatedly made quick deliveries to the nest site. 
 

Bird Ramblings - Woodpecker

This is a female Acorn Woodpecker that I photographed while Jeanette and I were birding in the Dallas City Park on June 14th. We were sitting on a bench with a perfect view of Rickreall Creek when we noticed a woodpecker fly to the top of this old snag. As we watched, she made several trips to nearby trees and then to a circular hole in another nearby snag. It was her cavity nest, and we are convinced that she was feeding some babies! I wasn't quick enough with the camera to photograph her going in and out of the nest, but believe me when I say, "We will be returning to this lovely bench again for more observations ".
 

Bird Ramblings - Scrub-Jay

 California Scrub-Jays are one of the most dependable birds to be seen on a daily basis here at Dallas Retirement Village. They are year-round residents. I sometimes hear people incorrectly refer to them as "Blue Jays". Technically, Blue Jays, with few exceptions, are only found east of the Rockies. We do have a smattering of Steller's Jays, but the most common, and the one that thrives in urban areas is the California Scrub-Jay. This one was photographed here at DRV on June 11th, perched on the back of a sitting bench.

Bird Ramblings - Swallows

It's been a busy Spring for Violet-green Swallows at Dallas Retirement Village. They seem to be constantly in the air with their swooping flights catching insects. A big thank you to Lodge Resident Karen Sewell who [provided this photo of a Violet-green Swallow bringing a feather to a nesting site built in a dryer vent. She took this photo from their balcony in The Lodge on June 4th.
 

Bird Ramblings - Mergansers

Last Thursday, May 28th, Jeanette and I went for a birdwalk at Riverview Park in Independence and were rewarded with this little family of Common Mergansers. If you look closely you can count six babies being led by their mother up the Willamette River. There is a nice concrete walkway that funs from the Independence City Hall to the Independence Hotel. We also enjoyed hearing and seeing Oprey and Bald Eagles. Here is the link to our Checklist.
 

Alder Island Revisited

We love the circling trail on Alder Island at the Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge near Lincoln City. Jeanette is shown here on the trail alongside of this towering Cow Parsnip plant, which is the largest member of the Carrot Family in North America at 10 feet in height. This birding Hot Spot was the highlight of our daytrip to the Oregon Coast yesterday which involved stops at five different Hot Spots. Here is the link to our Checklist at Alder Island.
 

Brid Ramblings - Sparrows

White-crowned Sparrows are having a successful nesting season in the Central Courtyard of The Lodge here at Dallas Retirement Village. This photo shows a mama feeding her new juvenile. This photo was taken on Saturday the 23rd in front of resident Liz McClues's patio, who has thoughtfully put out a ground level seed feeder. Th juvenile makes demands to have the seed placed right in its mouth. Meanwhile the father in a nearby tree proudly sings out his familiar song. Liz is thrilled to have what she calls a "whole family".
 

Bird Ramblings - Bluebirds

 Western Bluebirds are busy feeding babies! This location is at the Community Garden here at Dallas Retirement Village where a nesting box is located in a corner of the chain link fence. This is the mother bird, ready with an insect in her beak to fly up to the nesting box. You have to watch closely to catch the parents doing this feeding because they are in and out of the box so quickly. This photo was taken on Tuesday, May 12th.

UPDATE: During lunch at the Red House Bistro on May 19th, I noticed House Sparrows around the Bluebird's nesting box. I was immediately concerned because I know from experience that House Sparrows, given the opportunity, will kill baby Bluebirds. I went to check the nest and was pleased to find the nest empty, indicating that the juvenile Bluebirds have fledged, meaning that they have left the nest. I took the nest box down to prevent the House Sparrows from nesting.

Bird Ramblings - Starlings

Last Thursday morning when Jeanette and I were looking for birds in Dallas Retirement Village we were surprised to hear a California Quail call out.  This is an unusual species to hear in this urban setting.  We did not see it, so we walked on. Next, we heard a Robin. Again, we could not find it. Next, we spotted this European Starling, and we knew right away we had been fooled. European Starlings are non-native birds, and thrive in urban settings, in fact we have them nesting in The Lodge eaves here at DRV. They are known to mimic the call or song of up to a dozen different species. Be cautious when you hear a bird you cannot see and be on the look-out for a nearby Starling. 
 

Wedding Anniversary

Yesterday, May 9th, was our 33rd Wedding Anniversary! We celebrated by returning to Silver Falls State Park where we were married. The ceremony took place in this meadow, which is now known as Smith Creek Village. Quite a flood of memories for us. The weekend that we were married, our families spent the night in the cabins, the ceremony was held the next morning in this meadow before we left in our Toyota for our honeymoon, a bicycle camping tour of the Columbia River Gorge.

Silver Falls State Park has held many memories for us. I first visited this park for a plumber's picnic when I was 5 or 6 years old. Jeanette attended Girl Scout Camp at Smith Creek and later worked as a camp counselor. We have returned over the years here to hike many of the trails, photograph the flowers, ride mountain bikes, and camp in various RVs.

On this day we parked at the South Falls parking lot and started right away making a bird list. We wandered through the area checking out the gift shop and attended a bird demonstration of hawks and raptors.  After lunch in the Lodge, we drove up Smith Creek.

We have had an amazing life together. More than we could have possibly dreamed of, and one that we continue to be grateful for.      
 

Bird Ramblings - Swallows

 This is a closeup of a Violet-green Swallow that I took on Sunday May 3rd. You can see how this swallow gets its name if you notice the violet patch on the butt, and the green coloration on the back. This photo was taken here in Dallas at the Mark O. Hatfield Park at the intersection of SE Birch and Stump Streets, just across the street from the Dallas Seventh-day Adventist Church. I recommend this small park for bird watching. There are a number of benches conveniently located that make a good place to sit and listen and watch for birds.  

Bird Ramblings - Mallards

Last Saturday, April 25th, we took advantage of the nice weather and went for a bird walk at Dallas City Park. My best photo for the morning was this pair of Mallards on the other side of Rickreall Creek. I might be reading too much into this photo, but it looked to me like the male is standing guard as the female looks for a nesting location. It's a wonderful opportunity for the residents of Dallas Retirement Village to have such an amazing park so close-by and so full of the wonders of nature.
 

Bird Rambling - Hummingbirds

Anna's Hummingbirds continue to star in the center stage of bird watching in The Lodge Central Courtyard of the Dallas Retirement Village. This week's news is that we have success with a new baby bird. For many days we could only see a tiny bill sticking up out of the nest. But in this photo taken last Friday the 17th, we have a little better look. Notice the short beak and the yellow at the base, both indicators of a juvenile. So far, it's been impossible to catch a glimpse of the mother feeding it, but because it continues to grow, I'm sure that she sneaks in unseen. 

(Editorial Update: Because of the lag in time between writing and publication, I can now report the baby bird has successfully fledged and has been seen in various locations in the Courtyard for several days now.)   
 

We Have Hope

 "Hope" is the name we have chosen for our new Coachmen Pixel 1.8RB camping van. Two weeks ago, we took Hope on her Maiden Voyage to the Oregon Coast. On this trip yesterday, we took her to a favorite birding location up the Santiam Canyon to Lyons City Park and adjacent John Neal Memorial Park. It is obvious to us that this van represents for us our "hope" that we are not too old to still enjoy some adventures. We are not ready to give up adventuring and simply accept a sedentary life in our retirement facility. We look to Hope to take us not necessarily on long trips, but on short trips nearby, to experience a quick getaway. Hope has a number of creature comforts that will help in our travels such as a bed that is easily accessible, and cooking appliances to aid meal preparation. Plus, many new improvements in the Ram chassis to aid safer driving and navigation, and a generator to back-up electrical systems.  

Bird Ramblings - Osprey

 An Osprey pair are back this year to the nest in front of the Independence Hotel. We went to check on the nest site on April7th and got this photo of the male coming in for a landing. The other exciting news is the live camera is operating again, making it easy to keep an eye on the Osprey's coming and going, and hopefully success in producing babies. You can see this cam by searching on YouTube for "Independence Osprey cam".

Bird Ramblings - House Finch

This is a male House Finch, photographed above the Jasper Street Entrance of The Lodge here at Dallas Retirement Village on April 2nd.  He and his female partner are setting up a nest in the tall shrubs at the Entrance. He is often heard singing from this roof-top perch. She is rather drab in color and seems to prefer to stay out of sight probably on the nest deep inside the shrub. There is a possibility that we have two pairs interest in nesting there.
 

Maiden Voyage

Salmon River Estuary - Fraser Rd 

This weekend was our first overnight trip in our new 2026 Coachmen Pixel 1.8 camper van. It was a loop to the Oregon Coast and back. Our first stop on Saturday morning was on Fraser Rd at the Salmon River Estuary to bird. Here is our bird list. 

Siletz River NWR - Siletz Keys

Continuing south through Lincoln City, our next stop was the Siletz Keys at the Siletz River National Wildlife Refuge. This turned out to be our best birding location of the trip with 35 different bird species. Here is our list.  This was also our lunch stop which we enjoyed sitting in the van with the sliding door open and watching and listening to the birds

Paddle Park - Yaquina Bay

Our afternoon stop was at Paddle Park along Yaquina River Rd., after a stop along the way for a short nap. For some reason it was an exceptionally quiet time for birds. Here us our bird list.

Depot Slough Path - Toledo

Our last stop of the day was at the park at the Depot Slough Path. This is a favorite spot for us to bird, and in the lingering light the best birding sighting was an Osprey on a nest eating a fish. Here is our bird list. Our night was not the best, still learning about the bed set-up, the temperature controls, and the battery endurance. 

Sunday, we completed our loop back to home to Dallas via Corvallis. Made a stop at Philomath Safeway for a snack and then on to lunch at Burgerville in Monmouth and a check on the Osprey nest in Independence, where despite reports of sightings, we saw nothing.