Sunday, February 9, 2025

More Birding from the Walker

We continue to go for a bird walk almost every day. The big impediment is my walker. It takes a little more logistics to load and unload the walker into either the car or the van. And then there is the consideration that the birding destination needs to have a concrete sidewalk for the walker. This does limit the possibilities; however, the walker is a necessity, and it allows me to sit, and by resting my elbows on the handlebars I am able to hold the camera still enough to take photographs. An example is the Anna's Hummingbird male, taken this morning at the Ash Creek Restoration Site in Independence. 

The big news, lurking in the background, is that on Friday we had an appointment with Dr Orina, a Neurosurgeon at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, and we are now on the path for a Laminectomy & Fusion in the next few months. Hopefully this will lead to the freedom of normal walking and no dependence on a walker.  

 



Thursday, February 6, 2025

Thursday's Bird Watch!


 Our balcony was very busy last Thursday with what we assumed was courtship behavior by a pair of Anna's Hummingbirds.  This went on for hours, making it hard for us to get anything done.  After three days of observing them chit chatting on the perch and then breaking out into full blown war, and then settling down for more conversation, only to repeat the whole drama over and over, we realized on close examination that we did not have a pair in courtship, but two females, bickering over the feeder or whatever. A male would also look different with a more complete throat patch.

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Thursday's Bird Watch!


This White-crowned Sparrow was photographed on a seed-feeder at the Assisted Living facility here in Dallas Retirement Village on January 20th.  White-crowned Sparrows are one of the easier birds to identify with their striking white crown stripes, and in Spring you cannot help but hear the males singing out boldly. They are year-round residents here at DRV, preferring to build their round grass formed nest in low shrubbery.  In fact, I found a nest with four eggs in a rosebush here at DRV at the Japer Street Entrance in May of 2020.  It's hard for them to make it through a nesting season without being interrupted by the gardeners, but that is the world we live in.  
 

Saturday, January 25, 2025

First Vulture Sighting of the Year

Jeanette spotting the Turkey Vulture over the trees

After lunch today we went in search of new birds for this year's Polk County eBird List.  At the top of the list was the Red-breasted Nuthatch. It has the highest percentage for us to see, and one of the locations we have observed it in the past was the Ash Creek Restoration Site in Independence. Plus, I figured the trees along the creek would give us some protection from the bitter north wind. We did not hear or see any Nuthatches, but we did get a complete surprise of a Turkey Vulture! This is a bird we would not except to see this far north until sometime in March. Not only was this a first sighting for us in Polk County, but this is also a first sighting this year for anyone in Polk County!
 

Winter Escape to Toledo

Jeanette & Jim on the Depot Slough Path

We were desperate to escape the daily sub-freezing temperatures that we have delt with for the past week, so this morning we took off in the van for Toledo to do some birding. Arriving in the Toledo area we counted some birds along the Sturdevant Rd. Marsh, and at East Slope Park, making quick lists from the warm comfort of the van.  At Waterfront Park in Toledo, we had sunshine, and the temperature was 37 degrees. We bundled up and stepped out of the van to walk the Depot Slough Path. Here is our bird list and photos. Back to the van we warmed up and enjoyed some lunch.  Next it was off to Paddle Park

Jeanette at Paddle Park overlooking Yaquina Bay

Paddle Park is a favorite of ours, and almost a secret. Few people come here, even though there is a nice dock, boat launch, restrooms and parking. Birding is always good here. Here is our bird list and photos

Our weather changed and clouds replaced the sunshine.  Looking to the west we saw some blue sky, so we continued along the Yaquina Bay Rd. to Newport, and then north on Highway 101 to Lincoln City, and back to Dallas. We felt we had an adventure and an escape from the daily humdrum. 

Here is a link to some of the parks in Toledo. 

 
 

Thursday, January 23, 2025

Thursday's Bird Watch


I always think of Yellow-rumped Warblers as "winter" birds.  Checking the information in eBird for Dallas Retirement Village, Yellow-rumped Warblers have been reported here at DRV from November thru April.  They are most easily identified by a yellow or white throat and the yellow rump.  I photographed this Yellow-rumped Warbler in Kirk and Cheryl Wagner's Garden Home backyard feeder on January 12, 2025. In an important announcement, Bird Watch! will now be shared with Assisted Living in their weekly newsletter, the Brentwood Tribune.  A thank you goes to Sue Olmstead who made the suggestion.   
 

Thursday, January 16, 2025

Thursday's Birdwatch!


This is a Red-shouldered Hawk, photographed on January 3rd in the Dallas City Park. Do not confused this with the more common larger Red-tailed Hawk.  The Red-shouldered Hawk is a somewhat recent arrival to Oregon, having expanded its range northward in the last four decades.  We have observed them here in the Dallas City Park and along the Rickreall Creek Trail System from the first of September thru the middle of May, which brings up the question where do they go in the summertime during breeding and nesting season?  I suspect they go to more remote locations in the coast range. I have no evidence, but it is my best guess.

In an update from last week's article on the Bald Eagle; Dallas Retirement Village resident, Judy Widmer, went in search of the Bald Eagle's nest. She texted me for confirmation on the location before locating it herself. Which brings up a point, if you have questions, feel free to text me at 541-670-9189.
 - Jim Scott