Last week at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro, Oregon we had freezing, but sunny skies. By Thursday all the ponds were completely frozen, and only the middle third of the Tualatin River was open. Small bird activity was reduced, ducks pretty much moved out. The 53 species reported was about 10 less than the previous week.
The THAYER'S GULLS and HERRING GULLS were on the open water in the center of Pintail Pond on Wednesday, just before it froze completely. They come from the landfill across the river. A HERMIT THRUSH was reported from the Madsen Property. This is the first report for the Preserve, though it should be expected in winter along the river or in our conifer groves. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK remained from earlier in the fall. For the second week in a row WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were found, apparently they will winter here, primarily below the landfill. Two VARIED THRUSHES were reported for the second time this fall/winter.
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Tundra Swan
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Ring-necked Duck
Hooded Merganser
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Killdeer
Wilson's Snipe
California Gull
Herring Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Mourning Dove
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Bushtit
White-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick's Wren
Marsh Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch