Thursday's Bird Watch

 BABY BIRDS UPDATE - I took this photo last Wednesday on August 16th of the baby Western Bluebirds in the nesting box at The Pavilion her in Dallas Retirement Village.  It's a real guessing game to decide how many babies are in this photo. When I took the original photo of the eggs on July 21, there were clearly only 4 eggs.  Looking at this photo, I count somewhere between 4 to 6 babies.  Look closely and let me know your count.  they are growing rapidly and will probably be out of the nest this week. 

The Hunted and the Hunter

 Yesterday morning while walking back to the car after birding at Moffitti Marsh in Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, we noticed an unusual number of small birds darting in and out of the hedgerow of blackberry bushes along the fence row. They were out of sight until suddenly they popped up and flew to the next bush only to immediately disappear deep into the bushes. It was hard to make an identification let alone get a photo.  Eventually I did get a few photos and we were able to identify House Finches, House Sparrows, and White-crowned Sparrows. But we were still mystified at their hiding behavior, and then we discovered their reason for hiding, an intense looking Cooper's Hawk.

Here is our eBird Observation List.

Thursday's Bird Watch

 The Red House Bistro here at Dallas Retirement Village continues to be a top spot to watch birds.  I took this photo of an Anna's Hummingbird while we were having breakfast there last Thursday morning, August 10th.  The handy work of David Fletcher in the flowerbeds on the patio provides a feasting location for the hummingbirds where they collect nectar from the flowers.  In addition to Anna's Hummingbirds, we also observed two migrating Rufous Hummingbirds. 

Why We Love Toledo

For the second day of our "Hiding-Out" from the heat at the coast, we took a morning trip to Toledo from our overnight spot in Newport. We simply love Toledo. We find ourselves returning again and again, specifically to the Port of Toledo with its Marina, Waterfront Park and Depot Slough Path. We are drawn of course to the birds, but it is also very pleasant to stroll along the docks in the Marina, through the Waterfront Park, and along the paved walkway of the Depot Slough Path. Here is our eBird Observation List.

 

Here is an informative link for the Port of Toledo

Spyglass Ridge Open Space

A few days ago, I realized that there was a brand new eBird Hotspot in Lincoln City, Spyglass Ridge Open Space. A trip to explore this park fit really well with our desire to escape the 100+degree heat forecasted in the Willamette Valley. After all, Lincoln City is only an hour from our home in Dallas, and the coastal forecast was for much cooler temperatures. We are spoiled because with our camper van it's so easy to take off for a couple of days without much effort.  

We had never been to Spyglass Ridge before, and we were not disappointed.  We love an adventure, and this place is well hidden and takes some effort to find. Hopefully you can download a map from the Q code below, because a map is really important in finding your way on these unmarked trails.

 

The beauty of the deep forest held us in awe. 

Using the Merlin Bird Identification app was helpful in identifying birds hidden in the high canopy. Here is our eBird Observation List. 

Thursday's Birdwatch

 The "News Flash" here in the birding world at Dallas Retirement Village is that the nesting box located at the Pavilion has baby Western Bluebirds that are being fed by their parents.  I had taken a photo of the eggs back on the 21st of July, but it wasn't until I was tipped off on Aug 2nd when resident Barbara Berrie and her caregiver, Angela Barker, reported that the adults were busy feeding their babies that I was aware the chicks had hatched.

 

Thursday's Bird Watch

 

It's a quiet time of year for birds, but if you look closely, you may catch some touching scenes because it is also the time of year for new young birds. This is a family of House Finches taken here at Dallas Retirement Village last Thursday the 27th of July.  Male House Finches are easy to identify with their bright red plumage. Females are more subtle, but distinct breast stripes always provide a clue.  Juveniles if seen all alone provide almost no clue to their identification. 

Silver Falls State Park

 Recent news articles had alerted me to new construction at Silver Falls State Park at what is to be called the North Gateway. We had a free day today, so decided to take off and discover what this is all about.  Just opening in July is the first phase, which is the North Cayon Trailhead and parking lot. This new trail connects to the North Canyon Trail as well as the new North Falls Viewpoint. 

North Falls Viewpoint

We had a great time exploring the trail to the North Falls Viewpoint, enjoying the lush vegetation of familiar ferns, fruit bearing shrubs, and towering trees. And, recalling all the experiences we have had over the years at Silver Falls State Park, beginning as teenage campers, through many years of hiking, biking and camping. And of course, the crowning event of our wedding in 1993. 

The future of the North Gateway looks to be an exciting addition to the park, with a new Visitors Center, and Campground.