Common Goldeneye, Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Hillsboro, Oregon on 17 February 2010 by Greg Gillson.The rather rare COMMON GOLDENEYE and NORTHERN SHRIKE remained from last week. The GREAT HORNED OWL is still sitting on eggs. The BALD EAGLES have been adding material to their nest, but aren't incubating eggs yet.
An anonymous observer spotted a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL in a nest box, but exactly which of the dozens of nest boxes on the Preserve wasn't specified, and I couldn't find it--drat! A single early RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was spotted on February 20. TREE SWALLOWS arrived in small numbers during the week. An out-of-season BARN SWALLOW was seen February 26.
The patagial-marked RED-TAILED HAWK was here last week, but was reported this week by the Hillsboro Library staff at Dawson Creek Corporate Park. But, then, it was seen back here at Jackson Bottom on Friday again.
I am going to be leading free bird walks on the Preserve. The current plan is for these to be Wednesday mornings (nearly) every week, 8:30-11:00. Bring your boots for muddy trails. Be prepared to walk leisurely up to 3 miles (you can drop out at any time) as we visit ponds, woods, riparian, and upland grassland areas for a general census of all birds present. Participation is limited, so please email me, Greg Gillson to make sure space is available.
Birds this week:
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Ring-necked Pheasant
California Quail
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
American Coot
Killdeer
Greater Yellowlegs
Dunlin
Wilson's Snipe
Western Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Mourning Dove
Western Screech-Owl
Great Horned Owl
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Steller's Jay
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Bushtit
White-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick's Wren
Marsh Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch
Pine Siskin
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow