Female Black-headed Grosbeak, Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve, Hillsboro, Oregon on May 19, 2010 by Greg Gillson.Spring migration seem to be waning at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro, Oregon. Fewer migrant birds than summer residents were detected this week. Of note was a rare FORSTER'S TERN that passed through on May 14. New migrant arrivals this week included SWAINSON'S THRUSHES and WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES. High numbers of BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS continue to pass through (including the female photographed during a shower on May 19).
During calm mornings the soft lisping songs of YELLOW WARBLERS are heard in the willows. These birds are generally quite uncommon in western Oregon. On the free Wednesday morning bird walk this week we heard 5 singing male YELLOW WARBLERS on the Blue Heron Trail and 2 additional birds on the Kingfisher Marsh Trail. The Wednesday morning bird walks are from 8:30 to 11:00 am. No pre-registration is necessary, just meet on the back deck of the education center for a leisurely 3 miles stroll.
The week ended with cold, windy, rainy weather, thus the total number of birds detected this week is perhaps lower with fewer birders reporting sightings.
An AMERICAN ROBIN is setting on a nest in the viewing shelter. BARN SWALLOWS are nesting under the footbridge. A fledgling RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD was noted, as well as a used nest of that species. A brood of MALLARD chicks was noted, along with CANADA GOOSE families. Several fledgling LESSER GOLDFINCHES have been noted.
Here is this week's list of birds sighted.
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Gadwall
Mallard
Cinnamon Teal
Northern Shoveler
Hooded Merganser
Ring-necked Pheasant
California Quail
Great Blue Heron
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Virginia Rail
Sora
American Coot
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Forster's Tern
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
Vaux's Swift
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Western Wood-Pewee
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Steller's Jay
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Bushtit
Bewick's Wren
Marsh Wren
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
Pine Siskin
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch