Continual Learning

Red-breasted Sapsucker

I go on a bird walk daily.  It may be at a city or county park, or even at a nearby refuge, but a majority of the time it is just within my local neighborhood here at Dallas Retirement Village. That may sound boring, because as you might suspect, I see some of the same species every time. But the hidden gem here is the astonishing amount of learning that is connected with this repetitive activity. I know before walking out the door I will hear and see some American Crows, Anna's Hummingbirds, California Scrub Jays, and European Starlings, just to name a few. But occasional I get a surprise, like a hawk, or an unusual sparrow, or, like today, a Red-breasted Sapsucker.  In fact, today, I saw two Red-breasted Sapsuckers! But, the real point of my post today is not about unusual birds, as it is about the value of birding every day. It inevitably leads to a greater understanding of birds in general, or in this case, some birds in particular. I have known for some time that Sapsuckers drill holes in the bark of trees to have access to sap. They then revisit these sap "wells" to slurp up the sap again and again. Insects are also interested in the sap, but sometimes get caught in the sticky sap which serve as an extra bonus for the sapsucker. On a recent bird walk my wife and I observed an Anna's Hummingbird visiting a sap well to harvest the sweet sap. Then yesterday on Jan 13th, we found two Red-breasted Sapsuckers on two different trees, and at both locations, a pair of Anna's Hummingbirds swirling around to sneak in for a serving of sap. Who knew that hummingbirds are dependent on sapsuckers for provisions? My conclusion is that there is much to learn with continual daily observations.    

A Weekend Window of Sunshine

We have been watching the weather forecast everyday hoping for a couple of dry days in this seemingly endless pattern of rain. Finally, this week we noticed that Saturday and Sunday were predicted to be dry and warmer on the Oregon Coast.  We set our sights on a visit to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, south of Florence, where our friend Glenn who is currently working as a volunteer at the Driftwood II Campground. It was a good decision, and we enjoyed bright sunshine and some great birding.

Glenn points out recent changes in the beach

We connected with Glenn on Saturday morning and immediately took off for a bird walk on the Siltcoos River estuary and beach. Major changes have occurred this winter with huge storms piling up sand, causing changes in the river's route, even to one point entirely blocking the river's access to the ocean. 

Bonaparte's Gull, as shown here, and lots of Western Gulls were busy at the mouth of the river feeding and bathing, until a Bald Eagle appeared, and they all scattered.

 

The wonderful weather brought out all kinds of sightseers, including this low flying airplane. 

Over a hundred Sanderlings scurried along the waterline looking for little tidbits. You can see our observation list of the river and beach here.

After lunch the three of us drove to Carter Lake for an afternoon bird walk. This Common Loon was a great find, in fact it was the first to be reported to e-Bird at this location as well a flock of Canada Jays that we also saw. You can see our observation list here. We concluded our day at Darling's Marina & RV Resort enjoying dinner and the sun setting across Siltcoos Lake.

Both the Lagoon and Waxmyrtle Campgrounds are closed due to highwater flooding. Driftwood II Campground, where Glenn works, and stays is still open. Click on this map to get a closer look at the area.  

We have enjoyed this area for many years, camping, birding, and volunteering in the Snowy Plover Protection Program.  In fact, we first met Glenn while camping here at Waxmytle Campground around five years ago. We have continued to share in adventures with Glenn, not only here, but throughout Oregon, California and Arizona.     

Good Start to New Year

 I was happy to find this Red-breasted Sapsucker this morning, back at his old tree here in the Dallas Retirement Village.  2021 has been a tough year for him as well as everyone else.  The landscape crew got carried away this year in trimming up this tree and exposed his hideaway where he could harvest the sap in secrecy. You see, Sapsuckers drill holes in trees not to find insects, but to access sap.  They then return to these "sap wells" again and again to harvest the sap. If a hapless insect gets stuck in the sap, so much the better for the Sapsucker. In the past I could count on stopping by and peering deep into the foliage to see him, or getting a glimpse of  him as he came and went to and from his hidden source of sap.  But for many months now, he has been missing. I'm sure he has felt his private world was destroyed. So, it really made my day to find that he was back. Perhaps he summoned up the courage to drill new holes for sap out in plane sight. I'm going to choose this as a good omen for the New Year, with hoping we all can manage to get back to our normal lives again.

Winter Adventures at Home

We have had an overabundance of snow for the past three days, and the weather forecast says there are several more days to come, leaving us essentially house bound. Our routine each morning, is after coffee, catching up with e-mail, Facebook, and the news, we have breakfast and go for a work-out in the Mill, which is the new location here at Dallas Retirement Village that is equipped with exercise machines. Next I go out and clear off the snow on the solar panel on our van so that the batteries will continue to charge. A good part of the last couple of days has been spent working on a jigsaw puzzle in the Jasper St Lobby.  For the last three weeks we have been participating in water volleyball in our new swimming pool one a week in the afternoons. Our evenings are usually spent watching Youtube, and movies. 

Our Winnebago Solis Pocket van after the first night of snow

The view from our bedroom of our central courtyard

the Christmas jigsaw puzzle

Jeanette enjoying our morning adventure

This morning the bright sunshine inspired us to venture out for little adventure and enjoy some more fresh snow.  It was a little more complicated than you might think. It took a while to dig our snow gaiters and hiking poles, and then to layer up good against the 30-degree temperatures. 

Day Tripping

This photo was taken a couple of months ago, October 6th in the nearby town of Independence. We are parked behind their Civic Center, where we have good access to walk and bird on the Riverview Park Trail along the Willamette River.  Now the days have grown shorter, the weather is colder, wetter, and the leaves are gone, as is our desire for complicated overnight trips. And then there are the distractions, or opportunities, you choose the word, of the new facilities here at Dallas Retirement Village.

With two new exercise rooms, a hot tub, and a swimming pool, we have lots of options to fill in the winter days.  However, we continue to use the van, primarily for daytrips to close-by parks to walk and bird.  It's a convenient mood of transportation, lots of room out of the elements to potty, change clothes, and enjoy lunch in the comfortable dinette with a furnace to keep us warm and comfortable.

Here are the links to bird walks from yesterday's daytrip.

 eBird Checklist - 10 Dec 2021 - Sarah Helmick SP - 13 species

eBird Checklist - 10 Dec 2021 - 14320–14424 S Pacific Hwy W, Monmouth US-OR 44.72092, -123.22170 - 1 species

eBird Checklist - 10 Dec 2021 - Adair Wildlife Area - 17 species

Alder Island Trail

The Alder Island Trail at Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge has to be one of our top favorite birding locations.  I checked my records, and this is our twelfth trip there this year. The trail is well maintained, and provides a variety of looks at the Siletz River and the sloughs that surround the island. Yesterday was a cold morning in the mid 30's when we left Dallas and drove through thick fog before some clearing along the Salmon River.  Arriving at the Refuge around 9:30AM it was sill only 42 degrees and a cold wind made it seem even colder. We made the one mile loop around the island before retreating back to the van and its warm furnace to have some hot-chocolate.  This is why we love the van, even for just day trips. It allows us a refuge in all kinds of weather conditions.  Hot chocolate turned into tuna salad sandwiches and chips for lunch before taking a second lap to finish off our outing.  
 

This is our kind of place, paved roads, an empty parking lot, gravel trails, lots of birds, and a warm van awaiting our return.

 

North Along the Coast - Day 3 Oct 31

 September 23, 1999

In the fall of 1999, Jeanette and I rode our bikes from Canada to Mexico. This photo was taken in-route on the day we rode from Pacific City to our home in Salem. We had so much more energy in those days! Here is a link to my Trip Journal. 

By comparison, yesterday was pretty much a non-event day.  At daylight we left our parking spot at Blue Heron French Cheese Company in Tillamook, and drove home to the Dallas Retirement Village. We unpacked the van and I gave it a wash job. But in the background in our minds, as we drove Hwy 101 were the many memories of our epic bicycle tour.   

We enjoyed this three day get away to the coast, as we continue to use our new Winnebago Solis Pocket to take us on adventures to birding locations, and provide food and shelter. We have now had the van for two and half months, and have spent 15 nights camped in a variety of locations.  We started out in August in the Cascades and Central Oregon. During September and October we made several trips to the Central and South Coast, the Columbia River Gorge, and now a section of the North Coast.