Bird Ramblings - Scrub-Jay

I got lucky to catch this California Scrub-Jay carrying an oak tree acorn in its bill here in Dallas Retirement Village on the 12th of October. It was sitting atop a streetlight at the intersection of Tilgner and Brentwood Avenues. California Scrub-Jays are year-round residents of DRV. They can be seen here literally every month of the year and are easily noticed with their raucous calls. Fall is the time of year when they are busy carrying acorns io hidden locations in flower beds and under shrubbery to bury for eating throughout the Winter. 
 

Monmouth Recreational Park

Jeanette looking for birds

Yesterday we went bird watching at a newly constructed boardwalk in the Monmouth Recreational Park. This large multi-purpose park, located in the nearby town of Monmouth, is made up of baseball fields, tennis courts, dog parks, and skate park areas. Most important to us is this new boardwalk and shelter built over a marshy area which is perfect for bird watching! We enjoyed our time there and made the following eBird Observation List. This for sure is high on our list for return visits. 

 

Bird Ramblings - Turkeys

Last Saturday while looking for birds here at Dallas Retirement Village we happened to cross paths with DRV resident Greg Hatton. While showing him the tree on Tilgner Ave that the Red-breasted Sapsuckers like to use, three Wild Turkeys crossed the street and into the parking lot in front of the Assisted Living building. This photo of one of the Turkeys appears to be a young male. Notice the developing red throat wattles and the long breast beard. I know many of our DRV residents enjoy seeing the Wild Turkeys which will continue to hang out here until Spring when they leave to seek out a more secluded area for nesting.
 

Bird Ramblings - Eagle

 On Sunday, September 27th, while attending the Walk to End Alzheimer's event at the Salem Riverfront Park, Jeanette and I did a bit of birdwatching and got this photo of a Bald Eagle. Actually, we identified 30 different species of birds. You can see our observation list here. I know Bald Eagle are a favorite for most people, and coincidentally this was the best photo of the day. Their large size and distinctive white head and tail make for an easy identification. They are year around birds here in the Willamette Valley and love to hang out along the Willamette River where they can prey on fish and ducks. 

Bird Ramblings - Sapsucker

I finally got a photo of a returning, Red-breasted Sapsucker on September 20th, after getting only a couple of quick glimpses during the previous two weeks. This is a seasonal phenomenon. They vanish from Dallas Retirement Village in late April to find a suitable tree with a cavity for nesting. Then, as expected, they return in September to drill holes in their favorite tree on Tigner Ave. They will spend the winter licking up the sap that oozes out of the holes, and also eating hapless insects that get caught in the sticky sap. Anna's Hummingbirds will also make secret visits for a quick bit of sap. 
 

Bird Ramblings - Sparrows

Last Friday, the 18th of September, Jeanette and I went to check the birds at the Salem Riverfront Park. We were pleased to find 29 different species. Here is our checklist. The bird that posed the best for us was this Golden-crowned Sparrow that popped up out the blackberry bushes. You can tell from the red stains on its bill that it has been eating berries. Golden-crowned Sparrows are basically winter sparrows, and we were reminded that it's the time of year they show up. Last year at Dallas Retirement Village they were first seen in the Fall on September 17th, and then last seen in the Spring on May 3rd. Keep an eye out for them this Winter, they are quite often mixed in with White-crowned Sparrows.
 

Bird Ramblings - Woodpeckers

Downy Woodpeckers are the smallest of our Woodpeckers and also one of the more common. While birding in the Delbert Hunter Arboretum on Sunday Sept 13th, our phone app "Merlin" picked up the Downey's call. We searched for 10 minutes before we finally found her on this snag. We know its's a female because it lacks the red patch on the back of the head that so easily identifies the male. We are so fortunate to have the great birding locations of the Arboretlum and Dallas City Park so close to Dallas Retirement Village.