Great Horned Owl and chick, Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve, Hillsboro, Oregon on March 17, 2010 by Greg Gillson.Spring migration is being felt now at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro, Oregon.
A migrant adult WHITE-THROATED SPARROW spent a couple of days at the front feeders. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER numbers are increasing, and many are in bright breeding plumage now. A CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, rare in the wetlands, was at the feeders during the week. The first local TURKEY VULTURE of spring was spotted March 14. A SNOW GOOSE and a MERLIN were reported March 16. The NORTHERN SHRIKE was reported March 13, but rising waters from previous days' rains flooded Miller Swale to keep birders out of the back grasslands the rest of the week.
TREE SWALLOWS are investigating nest boxes. DOWNY WOODPECKERS and NORTHERN FLICKERS seem to be working on excavating future nesting cavities. The BUSHTITS flocks have broken up and the birds are now paired.
Many birds are singing away, including SONG SPARROWS, BEWICK'S WRENS, MARSH WRENS, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, AMERICAN ROBINS, and SPOTTED TOWHEES.
The BALD EAGLES apparently laid their first egg on March 17. For the first time this spring the female spent most of the morning on the nest, briefly flew up and copulated with the male at noon, and immediately returned to the nest again.
Snow Goose
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Ring-necked Pheasant
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Merlin
Killdeer
Greater Yellowlegs
Glaucous-winged Gull
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Anna's Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Northern Shrike
Steller's Jay
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
White-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick's Wren
Marsh Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch
Pine Siskin
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow