Finally, the Rain Ends!

Finally, after seven rain soaking days, the rains have ceased and we have bright sunshine in Dallas, Oregon.  And for the first time in seven days, I got in a morning bird walk here at Dallas Retirement Village!  There was a cold wind from the north, but the combination of a dry day and sunshine brought out the birds.

One of three White-crowned Sparrows, after not seeing any for a month here at Dallas Retirement Village.

European Starlings are ever present and so vocal.

Two sets of pairs of Eurasian Collared-Doves, busy with what birds do in the Spring.

An American Crow, the dominate thief of all things edible.

A hapless young Bald Eagle is chased out of our air space by a Common Raven.

A pair of Western Bluebirds appear to be laying claim to this nesting box for the third year in a row.

Winter Adventure Trip

 Dallas to Canyonville - Feb 18

We have been itching to travel south to California for some sunshine and warmer temperatures. Not too far into California, but at least to the Red Bluff area in Northern California, where we knew that daytime highs would be in the 70's. Thursday night the 17th, the subject came up again, and a look at the weather forecast revealed that snow was expected in the Siskiyou's on Sunday the 20th, which meant we had two days to make it over the passes. The next morning, we started packing, and by 1:00 in the afternoon we were on the road. The 7 Feather's Rest Stop in Canyonville was our parking spot for our first night. We had a quiet night, so I was surprised when I stepped outside in the morning to find 6 other class B vans had parked adjacent to us during the night. 

Canyonville to Red Bluff - Feb 19

While parked at 7 Feathers Rest Area we got a call from son Tony that he was picking up his new car in Davis, California the next day. We said, "Well, we are going to be in Red Bluff tomorrow." He was bringing grandson Bobby with him and agreed to drive up and meet us in Red Bluff. We met at Del Taco for a late lunch, and then took them on a short walk in the Red Bluff Recreation Area. Tony and Bobby left to check-in at the Hampton Inn, and Jeanette and I stayed and set-up in the Sycamore Grove Campground in site #29. Later in the afternoon we made plans for pizza at E's Locker Room, and Tony provided the transportation in his  beautiful new car, a 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid.

 

Layover Day at Red Bluff - Feb 20

We decided that we really wanted to get more birding time in the Red Bluff Recreation Area, so decided on a second night in the Sycamore Grove Campground. You can look at our morning bird list here:

 eBird Checklist - 20 Feb 2022 - Red Bluff Rec Area - 33 species

Red Bluff to Anderson - Feb 21

On our last morning at Sycamore Campground, we finally got to bird with local birders, Scott and Susan Isaacson. We had met them on our first day at Red Bluff when they stopped to look at our van, and we had been trying to get together to bird ever since. You can see our bird list here.

eBird Checklist - 21 Feb 2022 - Red Bluff Rec Area - 46 species

After saying our good-byes to Scott and Susan, we began our travel day.  First we had a hamburger at McDonalds in Red Bluff, then we were off to Anderson to the T-Mobil store to add some data to my phone after receiving a notice from T-Mobil at 4:30 in the morning that I was about to run out of data. Once T-Mobil had worked their magic, we were exhausted and elected to park in their parking lot for the night.  I spent the remainer of the afternoon and evening processing photos for the bird list, and we dined on take-out from Panada Express next door.

Anderson to Blue Lake - Feb 22 

Our morning started with some confusion. In checking our route for the day, Apple Maps had changed yesterday's suggested route of Highway 299, to Highway 36. In attempting to make calls to find out if there was a problem with 299, I discovered that my phone did not work! This mandated a return to T-Mobil, which did not open until 10:00.  We got gas, and groceries while waiting. At T-Mobil much confusion reigned as to what the person had done the day before to my phone plan, and what changes were needed to correct the problem. It was 11:00 before we left, and we decided to chance 299 as it was a better road. Whiskeytown Lake Visitor's Center was our stop for lunch, and while there the snow flurries started.

Alternating snow flurries continued with sunny areas as we climbed pass after pass, chain-up areas, and roadside snow. None posed a problem, but we discovered, that road construction and wildfire damage repair resulted in many traffic stops and delays, and perhaps was a clue as to why Apple Maps had suggested a different route. Before dusk we arrived at Blue Lake Casino, our parking destination for the night.  An inquiry of an employee about parking areas brought the information that because the casino was closed, RV parking was free! 

 

Blue Lake to Brookings - Feb 23

 

Sunshine dominated the day as we drove Hwy 101 up the coast, enjoying ocean views and the Redwoods. Our first major stop for birding was in Crescent City for a walk and birding at the Beach Front Park, and then lunch and a second walk at B Street Pier.   A cold NE wind made 45-degree temperature fee like 30 something.

We continued on to Brookings for a major stop at Fred Meyers for groceries, gas, and propane before heading on to Harris Beach Rest Area for our overnight parking.  Much to our surprise and dismay they have instigated a new policy of 4-hour parking only!  Our second option was to stay in the campground across the Highway.  We had a nice talk with the host and learned that we could use a tent site for $20.  We made a loop through the campground and found a nice camp site, and as Jeanette was filling out the registration form, I discovered that we had no cell reception! That is an automatic rejection for us. I realize that many people think it's no big deal to go without cell service, but we depend on cell service for so many things, for example, all the bird reporting that I do, weather reports, road conditions, route planning, and not the least, connecting us with family and friends.

Our next step was to drive back into Brookings and look for a parking location.  After cruising around Brookings for a bit, we settled on the Fred Meyer parking lot.  After all, we had already given them a bunch of money for groceries, gas, and propane. It worked out fine and we had a quiet night. 

Brookings to Dallas - Feb 24

By 7:00 AM we were on the road again, with a determination to drive straight home, and not stop for another night.  We chose the route up Hwy 101 to Newport, changing drivers every hour, and one person ate lunch while the other was driving. We were home before 2:00PM at 270 miles.

  

   

      

   

 

Continual Learning

Red-breasted Sapsucker

I go on a bird walk daily.  It may be at a city or county park, or even at a nearby refuge, but a majority of the time it is just within my local neighborhood here at Dallas Retirement Village. That may sound boring, because as you might suspect, I see some of the same species every time. But the hidden gem here is the astonishing amount of learning that is connected with this repetitive activity. I know before walking out the door I will hear and see some American Crows, Anna's Hummingbirds, California Scrub Jays, and European Starlings, just to name a few. But occasional I get a surprise, like a hawk, or an unusual sparrow, or, like today, a Red-breasted Sapsucker.  In fact, today, I saw two Red-breasted Sapsuckers! But, the real point of my post today is not about unusual birds, as it is about the value of birding every day. It inevitably leads to a greater understanding of birds in general, or in this case, some birds in particular. I have known for some time that Sapsuckers drill holes in the bark of trees to have access to sap. They then revisit these sap "wells" to slurp up the sap again and again. Insects are also interested in the sap, but sometimes get caught in the sticky sap which serve as an extra bonus for the sapsucker. On a recent bird walk my wife and I observed an Anna's Hummingbird visiting a sap well to harvest the sweet sap. Then yesterday on Jan 13th, we found two Red-breasted Sapsuckers on two different trees, and at both locations, a pair of Anna's Hummingbirds swirling around to sneak in for a serving of sap. Who knew that hummingbirds are dependent on sapsuckers for provisions? My conclusion is that there is much to learn with continual daily observations.    

A Weekend Window of Sunshine

We have been watching the weather forecast everyday hoping for a couple of dry days in this seemingly endless pattern of rain. Finally, this week we noticed that Saturday and Sunday were predicted to be dry and warmer on the Oregon Coast.  We set our sights on a visit to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, south of Florence, where our friend Glenn who is currently working as a volunteer at the Driftwood II Campground. It was a good decision, and we enjoyed bright sunshine and some great birding.

Glenn points out recent changes in the beach

We connected with Glenn on Saturday morning and immediately took off for a bird walk on the Siltcoos River estuary and beach. Major changes have occurred this winter with huge storms piling up sand, causing changes in the river's route, even to one point entirely blocking the river's access to the ocean. 

Bonaparte's Gull, as shown here, and lots of Western Gulls were busy at the mouth of the river feeding and bathing, until a Bald Eagle appeared, and they all scattered.

 

The wonderful weather brought out all kinds of sightseers, including this low flying airplane. 

Over a hundred Sanderlings scurried along the waterline looking for little tidbits. You can see our observation list of the river and beach here.

After lunch the three of us drove to Carter Lake for an afternoon bird walk. This Common Loon was a great find, in fact it was the first to be reported to e-Bird at this location as well a flock of Canada Jays that we also saw. You can see our observation list here. We concluded our day at Darling's Marina & RV Resort enjoying dinner and the sun setting across Siltcoos Lake.

Both the Lagoon and Waxmyrtle Campgrounds are closed due to highwater flooding. Driftwood II Campground, where Glenn works, and stays is still open. Click on this map to get a closer look at the area.  

We have enjoyed this area for many years, camping, birding, and volunteering in the Snowy Plover Protection Program.  In fact, we first met Glenn while camping here at Waxmytle Campground around five years ago. We have continued to share in adventures with Glenn, not only here, but throughout Oregon, California and Arizona.     

Good Start to New Year

 I was happy to find this Red-breasted Sapsucker this morning, back at his old tree here in the Dallas Retirement Village.  2021 has been a tough year for him as well as everyone else.  The landscape crew got carried away this year in trimming up this tree and exposed his hideaway where he could harvest the sap in secrecy. You see, Sapsuckers drill holes in trees not to find insects, but to access sap.  They then return to these "sap wells" again and again to harvest the sap. If a hapless insect gets stuck in the sap, so much the better for the Sapsucker. In the past I could count on stopping by and peering deep into the foliage to see him, or getting a glimpse of  him as he came and went to and from his hidden source of sap.  But for many months now, he has been missing. I'm sure he has felt his private world was destroyed. So, it really made my day to find that he was back. Perhaps he summoned up the courage to drill new holes for sap out in plane sight. I'm going to choose this as a good omen for the New Year, with hoping we all can manage to get back to our normal lives again.

Winter Adventures at Home

We have had an overabundance of snow for the past three days, and the weather forecast says there are several more days to come, leaving us essentially house bound. Our routine each morning, is after coffee, catching up with e-mail, Facebook, and the news, we have breakfast and go for a work-out in the Mill, which is the new location here at Dallas Retirement Village that is equipped with exercise machines. Next I go out and clear off the snow on the solar panel on our van so that the batteries will continue to charge. A good part of the last couple of days has been spent working on a jigsaw puzzle in the Jasper St Lobby.  For the last three weeks we have been participating in water volleyball in our new swimming pool one a week in the afternoons. Our evenings are usually spent watching Youtube, and movies. 

Our Winnebago Solis Pocket van after the first night of snow

The view from our bedroom of our central courtyard

the Christmas jigsaw puzzle

Jeanette enjoying our morning adventure

This morning the bright sunshine inspired us to venture out for little adventure and enjoy some more fresh snow.  It was a little more complicated than you might think. It took a while to dig our snow gaiters and hiking poles, and then to layer up good against the 30-degree temperatures. 

Day Tripping

This photo was taken a couple of months ago, October 6th in the nearby town of Independence. We are parked behind their Civic Center, where we have good access to walk and bird on the Riverview Park Trail along the Willamette River.  Now the days have grown shorter, the weather is colder, wetter, and the leaves are gone, as is our desire for complicated overnight trips. And then there are the distractions, or opportunities, you choose the word, of the new facilities here at Dallas Retirement Village.

With two new exercise rooms, a hot tub, and a swimming pool, we have lots of options to fill in the winter days.  However, we continue to use the van, primarily for daytrips to close-by parks to walk and bird.  It's a convenient mood of transportation, lots of room out of the elements to potty, change clothes, and enjoy lunch in the comfortable dinette with a furnace to keep us warm and comfortable.

Here are the links to bird walks from yesterday's daytrip.

 eBird Checklist - 10 Dec 2021 - Sarah Helmick SP - 13 species

eBird Checklist - 10 Dec 2021 - 14320–14424 S Pacific Hwy W, Monmouth US-OR 44.72092, -123.22170 - 1 species

eBird Checklist - 10 Dec 2021 - Adair Wildlife Area - 17 species