Bird Ramblings

 This duck photo is of a Redhead. It was one of two males Jeanette and I found on November 28th at the Sheridan South Side Park and Fishing Pond. Redheads are considered rare birds in our area, just passing through during their migration. Dallas Retirement Village will be taking Independent Living Residents on the Thursday's Scenic Drive to this park on December 18th. These Readheads are continuing to be reported by other birders, so hopefully they will still be hanging around as well as many other migrating ducks and geese.  

Mt Fir Park

We went birding this morning at Mt. Fir Park in Independence, and once again we were reminded that there is so much more about bird watching than just the birds. To begin with it takes place in the great outdoors amid the wonders of nature. We like to concentrate on city, county and state parks. On this trip we started from the parking lot off of F Street between 7th and 8th. From there we took the trail along the South Fork of Ash Creek.  With the recent rains I was hoping for good water levels in Ash Creek that would be bringing in some waterfowl. This was not the case, but we did notice two nice beaver dams. Next as we walked along the creek we noticed fresh chewed marks on the willow trees. At first, we thought about beavers, but the marks seemed a little too high, and I realized that beavers typically chew off a whole limb or tree and drag into the water where it is stored, then chew off the bark. As we approached the second beaver dam, we came upon a pair of Blacktail Deer. Suddenly we had an answer to the marks on the willows, the male deer use the willows to scrape off the velvet from his antlers. and there he was with polished antlers. I continue to be amazed at what there is learn from nature by simple observation. Here is our eBird Checklist for our mourning.

Bird Ramblings

This is a Merlin, photographed here in Dallas Retirement Village on the 21st of November. Like last week's photo of the American Kestrel, it is also a member of the Falcon Family.  But don't let the Merlin's drab coloration compared to the bright colors of the Kestrel of last week fool you into thinking it's a dull bird.  In fact, in many ways, it is a more exciting bird.  It feeds primarily on small songbirds, which it enjoys capturing in mid-flight. It is a winter bird here, migrating from Canada in the fall and hanging around through Spring. It seems to follow Pine Siskins in their journey South from Canada. Pine Siskin populations vary from year to year depending on the conifer tree seed production in Canada. So far this year I have not seen any Pine Siskins here at DRV, but I did notice just a few days ago that we have large numbers of goldfinches and robins, so I'm thinking the Merlin will have a reason to hang around.

 

Bird Ramblings

 Dallas' newest city park, the John C. Barnard Park at 1901 SE Academy is our current favorite location to go birdwatching. This is where this American Kestrel was photographed on November 17th. The blue edge on the wings identifies it as a male. American Kestrels are the smallest member of the Falcon Family, and also the most striking in color. Plus, they are also the most common of the Falcons and easily seen in Polk County year around. If you are visiting the park, look for one hunting in the open field south of the park.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

The Loomis branch of my family tree immigrated to America in the early sixteen hundreds, in fact to Massachusetts where native Americans shared the first Thanksgiving with the newly immigrating Pilgrims. I woke up this morning thinking of the shocking difference in the treatment of immigrates in today's America under the Trump Administration. Shameful, disgusting, are a couple of words that come to mind. Today, I will be wondering and thinking about when will decency be restored to the home of the brave and the free.   

Bird Ramblings

Northern Pintail

Lane Sewall, our Dallas Retirement Village bus driver, took us on a trip last week that resident Vern Beeson put together to the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. The fog cleared just before we arrived at this sprawling 1,800-acre refuge. Due to the government shut down there were no staff on hand to answer questions or help with suggestions, so we just rambled around on our own. We soon learned that the best place to see and photograph birds was the viewpoint in front of the Visitors Center. Vern provided a spotting scope, and we were able to get a closer look at the amazing number of waterfowl. The Northern Pintail, as show in the photo above, was the overwhelming species, and it was also probably the most beautiful species with the sharp contrasting colors. Northern Pintails are primarily winter visitors here, arriving in large numbers in November and leaving in March. 

DRV resident LaVerda Gallager points out a bird to fellow resident Ginny Wyman

Rich Guadagno Trail

Western Meadowlark

 A dry November morning with bright sunshine was the perfect incentive to get in a good birdwalk and we chose the Rich Guadagno Trail at nearby Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge. It's the only trail open at the Refuge this time of year as the other trails are closed to protect wintering waterfowl. It's also the only trail in the vicinity with a good amount climb to get in a good workout. We were not disappointed and got in a good walk with a good number of birds. Western Meadowlarks were busy filling the air with song. You can see our eBird Checklist here.