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".