Short-billed Gull

 When Jeanette and I were at the Monmouth Wastewater Treatment Plant two days ago looking for the Field Sparrow, we also counted a great number of birds on the water, and most noticeable were three Short-billed Gulls.  This became a very intriguing bird to me.  To begin with, none of dozen or so bird guides I have, listed a Short-billed Gull.  It was only after using the Internet to search e-Bird and related sources that I discovered that in 2021 the name of the Mew Gull was changed to Short-billed Gull. It's not a gull we see here in the Willamette Valley that much, only in winter as it hangs out here while away from its summer breeding grounds in Alaska.

Field Sparrow

 Jeanette and I went looking for this little sparrow yesterday. We found it hiding in the bushes at the Monmouth Water Treatment Ponds.  So have over a hundred other people in the past ten days.  It was seen for the first time on January 17th by Brandon Wagner. The big deal is that this was the first reported sighting ever of this species in Oregon! It belongs on the other side of the Rocky Mountains, where it normally roams around from the Mid-West to the East Coast. The fact that it was spotted and identified by Brandon is a testimony to his birding skills and tenacity. The first thing Brandon did was share its location with the rest of the birding community.  Which also speaks to his great generosity. We also owe our good fortune to the kindness of two other birders who were on the scene when we arrived and willingly pointed out the bird to us. Click here to see our complete eBird Observation List.    If you plan on seeking out this unusual visitor, bear in mind that the wastewater treatment facilities are only open to the public Mon thru Fri from 8-3.   

A Dry Window

Jeanette scanning for birds

 Yesterday was a dry window in the weather after about 2 weeks of solid rain. We decided to take advantage of the opportunity and choose to take the van to Salem for the day and bird some of our old favorites. Fairview Wetlands was at the top of the list.  I checked back on the records, and we have birded there for 25 years, making 116 checklist lists, and identifying 104 different species of birds. Lots of memories. Back then we started out walking from our house on Reed Court, just looking for a way to get in some milage walking. Discovering birds new to us at the time, like Greater Yellowlegs, changed our focus from walking to birding. The industrial complex of Fairview Business Park had not been developed yet, there was only the undeveloped wetlands. No raised berms, no bark covered trails, and no water controlling dams. Over the years we have continued to come and enjoy the great diversity of bird life. You can see our bird list for today here. 

Green-wing Teal pair enjoying the morning sun 

Our next stop was Salem Riverfront Park where the fog had not yet lifted.  We stalled a little to have lunch in the warm comfort of the van and I worked on photos from our first stop. As the fog cleared, we stepped out of the van to a busy park, filled with families enjoying a free day due to Martin Luther King Holiday. We walked the length of the park, you can see our bird list here, and then crossed the Peter Courtney Bridge to the North Basin Conservation Area on Minto-Brown Island Park. Here is that list. 

As we left Salem in bright sunshine, we reflected on our great good fortune to be able to get out and enjoy the day.  Then, much to our surprise as we entered Dallas a rainstorm descended on us, however by the time we had parked the van at Dallas Retirement Village the rain had stopped. 

 

First Bird of the Year

Our first bird of the year was a Bald Eagle! This might seem a little like a scripted event, but honestly, when we stepped out of the van on Sunday Morning at the Salmon River Fish Hatchery, this Bald Eagle high in a tree eyeing the fishponds below, was the first bird Jeanette spotted. 

Normally, on the first day of the New Year we hit the nearby trials wherever we are living to count birds.  This year was a little different in that we headed to the Lincoln City area to do our birding. A couple of factors entered into our decision. For one, I was interested in going to the coast because it's a few degrees warmer. Secondly, I knew a landslide had blocked Highway 18 near Otis which would require taking a detour on Northbank Rd. to reach Lincoln City. That route would take us past the Salmon River Fish Hatchery. We had spent some time there back in 2008 and 2009 while volunteering for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Checking the eBird map I discovered it is now listed as an eBird Hotspot.  So, we made it our first stop of the day. 

We were delighted to discover this Hotspot. Located along the Salmon River, on the opposite side of busy Highway 18, it is a natural birding location. We enjoyed the morning sun and a good variety of birds. You can see our Observation List here.  We stayed on the asphalt walkways, but under drier conditions we will explore the dirt trails along the river. I can't wait to return; we expect this will be a regular birding location for us.

(click on image to enlarge)

    

 

Looking Back and Looking Ahead

Acorn Woodpecker female

Acorn Woodpecker male

On this last day of the year of 2022, I have been looking back on the year and other years, at bird trips and blog posts, and it's obvious that birding has become the central focus of my life. Every day, with very few exceptions, I am out counting birds, photographing, and submitting observation lists to eBird.org. Each week I write an article about birds for Looking Ahead, the weekly newsletter for the Dallas Retirement Village. This last week, the final article for the year, featured this pair of Acorn Woodpeckers, photographed here at DRV on December 21st. They are striking birds with an almost clown like appearance. It's been a tough year or more for them.  Their neighboring habitat was destroyed when 99% of the oak trees were removed to make room for a new housing development. I had last seen them on May 19th, 2020, so I was pleased and excited to see them again in our neighborhood. This morning as I write this post, I am thinking and looking back on our world situation, filled with so much turmoil, division and destruction, and yet life still persists. Perhaps it's possible to look ahead and take hope we can find a way to live in harmony and cooperation.     

 

      

 

Winter Birding

Jeanette listening for birds with her iPhone

Winter birding is all about looking for warmth and sunshine.  Yesterday we chose the Oregon Coast, a few degrees warmer, the sun brighter, and the air a little clearer than the Willamette Valley where we live. Specifically, we went to our current standby, the Alder Island Trail in the Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge, just south of Lincoln City.  The leafless trees now make for a baren woods devoid of color but do make the birds a little easier to see.

 

Possibly the best bird of the day, the elusive Hermit Thrush

A first for us at this location, a Common Loon

  

The ever-dependable Great Blue Heron

Here is the link to our complete Observation List.

 

Cold Weather Birding

Jeanette checking a pond on Perrydale Rd.

With the recent continuing cold weather, we have changed-up our birding practice from walking in the freezing outdoors to the comforts of our Winnebago camping van.  We have used it a number of times recently and discovered it is a very comfortable option. We turn on the furnace, have snacks and hot beverages at hand, and a potty for any emergency needs. In addition, the van sits up higher than a car, and the large windshield provides a great view. We are fortunate that we live in Dallas, a rural community, surrounded with miles of country roads to explore. Below are some bird photos taken yesterday from the van while driving along Myers Rd.

Killdeer

American Robin

Wison's Snipe

Red-tailed Hawk