Saturday, July 31, 2010

Photos: California Gull

California GullAdult California Gull, Newport, Oregon on 16 July 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

A few weeks ago I was at Newport, Oregon and noticed a flock of California Gulls had returned to the coast. These birds nest east of the Cascades in the great alkaline lakes and a few places along the Columbia River.

I noted that every age was represented of this gull that takes 4 years to become an adult. I obtained photos of a variety of ages but missed the 1st cycle plumage (imagine a faded juvenile).

California Gull3rd cycle California Gull, Newport, Oregon on 16 July 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 


California Gull2nd cycle California Gull, Newport, Oregon on 16 July 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 


California GullJuvenile California Gull, Newport, Oregon on 16 July 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Jackson Bottom birds: July 23-29, 2010

Bald EagleJuvenile Bald Eagle, Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Hillsboro, Oregon on 28 July 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

Even though it is still July, fall migration is picking up at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Shorebirds, gulls, and a few migrant songbirds that don't nest on the Preserve showed up this week. A BONAPARTE'S GULL and a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER were present on July 28, both annual but rather rare migrants inland in NW Oregon. In fact, this is the first known record for SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER at the Preserve, though admittedly difficult to identify. After an absence of about 8 weeks migrant WESTERN TANAGERS have returned. They nest in conifer woods, mostly in the hills, but not on the Preserve.

But the event of the week was that not one, but two, juvenile BALD EAGLES were together back by the Experimental Wetlands on July 28. One bird about 15 feet up in an ash tree calmly allowed visitors on the trail to view it at a distance of about 35 feet (photo above).

The nest at Jackson Bottom has been under constant scrutiny for months. The adults began incubating on March 17. The first food was brought to the nest on April 25, indicating the hatching date. First flight was observed July 19. At no time was it suspected that there were two young.

Two possibilities exist. 1) There were two chicks present all along and no one ever saw more than one at a time. 2) A lone juvenile from somewhere else joined the local fledgling and its parents. Either option presents problems. It is hard to believe a second bird was not observed during all those weeks. It is hard to believe that the parent eagles would not attack and kill any interloper.

Here is this week's list of birds...

Gadwall
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Green-winged Teal
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Western Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Bonaparte's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Mourning Dove
Vaux's Swift
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Western Wood-Pewee
Warbling Vireo
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Bushtit
White-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick's Wren
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Common Yellowthroat
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Bullock's Oriole
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

I love to misidentify birds!

strange sparrowStrange sparrow presents a learning opportunity, Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve, Hillsboro, Oregon on 13 July 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

Don't kill him! If you kill him he won't learn nothin'.
- The Riddler. Batman Forever (1995, Warner Bros. Pictures).


Thank goodness we don't get the death penalty for misidentifying birds, because I'm a repeat offender! I don't learn much if I say, "that's a robin" and my birding associate says, "yup."

However, when I make an error in identification, I spend a lot of time figuring out just exactly why and how I was fooled. I do research, ask questions, and learn....

On July 13, 2010 I was out in the back prairie at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro, Oregon, when a mid-sized pale sparrow flew out of the grass and up into a nearby tree.

The first thing that grabbed my attention was the buff (pale yellowish-brown) overall color, including the under parts. There was an obvious ochre (orangish-brown) color cast to the sides of the neck and upper chest. I quickly got off a couple of photos before a Song Sparrow came in and chased it away.

That orangish breast and lower face made me think of Le Conte's Sparrow or Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow. But the bird I saw was not flat-headed and short-tailed as these Ammodramus sparrows. In fact, it appeared round-headed and long-tailed, about like the Song Sparrow that chased it.

strange sparrowStrange sparrow, Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve, Hillsboro, Oregon on 13 July 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

The bird was obviously a sparrow. I suspected a juvenile sparrow. Two sparrows breed at Jackson Bottom: Song Sparrow and Savannah Sparrow. This bird did, indeed, have much to remind one of Savannah Sparrow.

Juvenile sparrows retain much of the head pattern of the adults, and usually show fine streaking on the chest. The head pattern of the observed bird did not match Savannah Sparrow, though.

My brief field notes were jotted down as:
Very pale. [Overall color] blonde-orange-tan. Brown lateral crown stripe, line through eye, around auriculars, mustache, and very wide lateral throat stripe. Throat buffy-orange. Thin white eyering. Obvious white upper [lower] wingbar. Thin streaks across upper breast/lower throat.
The wide lateral throat stripes and pattern on the face reminded me strongly of Song Sparrow. Some references indicated that juvenile Song Sparrows were buffier than adults. All juvenile Song Sparrows I had ever seen were dark and heavily streaked.

Nevertheless, I convinced myself that this must be a very young Song Sparrow just out of the nest, in a buffy plumage I had never seen.

After I posted photos Larry McQueen answered back that he thought it a Vesper Sparrow. Dave Irons added the following comments:
The highly restricted breast streaking, bold fanned out lateral throat stripe (malar), complete eyering and dark marking framing the auriculars all point to Vesper Sparrow. At first I wondered if it wasn't some really weird Savannah Sparrow, but there is no plumage of Savannah that shows so little streaking below.

Well, of course! How could I not come to that conclusion? The facial pattern, including the wide lateral throat stripe matches Vesper Sparrow. And the eyering? Look! "Thin white eyering" is in my description--but I ignored it. The tail is square or notched, not matching the rounded tail of Song Sparrow.

How and why did I make this mistake?

I didn't get a long look at the bird, though I could tell it was unusual. The Song Sparrow did chase it away before I had a chance to see white outer tail feather (barely discerned in the second photo). So, one reason I didn't get it right was that my view was too short in duration.

But I believe that the main cause of my misidentification was expectation. I expected any juvenile sparrow there to be Song Sparrow or Savannah Sparrow. I didn't expect anything else, so rejected the thought.

In fact, this apparent juvenile Vesper Sparrow is the first Washington County record in 12 years! This is the first and only record of Vesper Sparrow for Jackson Bottom. [Note: Jonathan Plissner reported Vesper Sparrow this year at Fernhill Wetlands in Forest Grove on May 11.]

Now the questions arise: Where did it come from? Is it nesting somewhere there on the prairie?

I will now keep my eyes--and mind--open.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Nature Journal: That sinking feeling

Juvenile Pied-billed Grebe, Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, Oregon on 13 July 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

Two weeks ago I observed this juvenile Pied-billed Grebe at the local wetlands. To submerge, grebes either lunge forward and dive head-first, or simply sink. This bird used this latter method.

It actually happens quite quickly. The bird starts submerging at the breast, then the body goes under, and finally the head. Here are two submerging sequences.



























































Here's another set...





























Thursday, July 22, 2010

Jackson Bottom birds: July 16-22, 2010

Northern FlickerNorthern Flicker, Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Hillsboro, Oregon on 19 July 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

Earlier this spring a few American Kestrel nest boxes were donated to Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro, Oregon. This week we noted that one of the nest boxes was occupied. No, not by kestrels. Instead, this nestling NORTHERN FLICKER (above) was peeking out begging for food.

Another exciting news item to report is that the nestling BALD EAGLE made its first flight on July 19.

Signs of fall migration picked up this week with numerous shorebirds, including about 30 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and a lone RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. On July 18 an adult BONAPARTE'S GULL put in a one-day appearance.

Here is this week's list of birds.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Cinnamon Teal
Northern Shoveler
Ruddy Duck
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Red-necked Phalarope
Bonaparte's Gull
California Gull
Band-tailed Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Vaux's Swift
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Western Wood-Pewee
Willow Flycatcher
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Bushtit
Bewick's Wren
Marsh Wren
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Common Yellowthroat
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Bullock's Oriole
Purple Finch
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Yaquina Head: Common Murre nesting colony

Common MurreYaquina Head, Newport, Oregon on 17 July 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

There were about 25,000 Common Murres surveyed in 1988 at Yaquina Head, north of Newport, Oregon. Today, over 80,000 murres nest here, according to the US Fish & Wildlife Service, the vast majority on Colony Rock, west of the lighthouse. This is more than the total number of nesting murres in British Columbia and Washington State combined.

Other common nesting seabirds at Yaquina Head include Brandt's Cormorant, Western Gull, Pelagic Cormorant, Pigeon Guillemot, and Glaucous-winged Gull.

Common MurreCommon Murre carrying fish to nestling on Yaquina Head, Newport, Oregon on 17 July 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

This past weekend I led a nearshore pelagic trip past Yaquina Head and had opportunity to view Common Murres at close range at sea. Many of the murres were ferrying fish back and forth to their single nestlings. Some of the fish brought back were quite small, indicating that the chicks are still small. This bird above, though, has quite a large fish, so its offspring might be larger.

According to published data, when about 25 days old, chicks about 20-25% of the adult's weight go to sea with the male parent. Chick/parent pairs are seen typically by late June or early July. Since we didn't see any chicks at sea, I wonder if the nesting season is a bit delayed this year?

Common MurreCommon Murre, Newport, Oregon on 17 July 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

Similar to Thick-billed Murres of more northerly waters, Common Murres have several slight differences visible at sea. For one, Common Murres have black bars along their white flanks, as clearly seen in the photo above.

Common MurreCommon Murre, Newport, Oregon on 17 July 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Nature Journal: Nest box double-take

Black-capped ChickadeeBlack-capped Chickadee, Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Hillsboro, Oregon on 13 July 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

There is nothing unusual in the above photo. On the free Wednesday morning bird walk I lead, we encountered this Black-capped Chickadee feeding nestlings at a nest box at Hillsboro, Oregon's Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve. The nestlings were grown enough to meet the parents at the nest entrance to receive food.

What is unusual, is that White-breasted Nuthatches were feeding nestlings at this same nest box 68 days earlier (see photo below)!

White-breasted NuthatchWhite-breasted Nuthatch, Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Hillsboro, Oregon on 6 May 2010 by Greg Gillson. Click on photo for larger views.

 

Here is what John K. Terres has to say about Black-capped Chickadee nesting in his book The Audubon Society Encyclopedia of North American Birds. He says that incubation is by both parents, 11-13 days and that the young leave the nest when 14-18 days old. The incubation and fledgling period is nearly the same for White-breasted Nuthatch (12 and 14 days, respectively).

It appears that the nest box might have been unoccupied approximately 42 days between the nesting of the nuthatch and chickadee.

Jackson Bottom birds: July 9-15, 2010



 

Eight weeks. It has been 8 weeks since anyone has heard the harsh chatter or slurred whistle of BULLOCK'S ORIOLES. Then, this week a noisy family group is obvious in the cottonwood and ash trees around the Clean Water Services building and the employeee parking area at Hillsboro's Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve nature center.

We know the orioles nested here last year, as a nest was obvious all winter in the tall cottonwood trees. The nest survived the wind and rain storms of winter, as its woven form was built primarily of blue tarp strings!

This week a YELLOW WARBLER was singing. Earlier in June we had several singing males. But they are quiet now. No one has seen or heard WILLOW FLYCATCHERS for two weeks either, but we are sure they breed in the wetlands. These birds are just quiet now that they likely have fledgling young to take care of, or perhaps they are completely finished with breeding this year.

Another bird that is harder to figure out is the LAZULI BUNTING. At least 3 singing males were present for about 2 weeks at the end of May and early June, out in the grassy fields. But they have not been seen or heard from since. Other common migrants that could breed, but apparently didn't, were PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER and WARBLING VIREO.

Young birds are everywhere, including CLIFF SWALLOWS, AMERICAN ROBINS, CINNAMON TEAL, WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS, DOWNY WOODPECKERS, SONG SPARROWS, NORTHERN FLICKERS, LESSER GOLDFINCHES, and many more.

Some fall birds, primarily waterbirds are returning already. These include GREAT EGRET, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and LEAST SANDPIPERS.

Here is this week's list of birds at Jackson Bottom.

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Gadwall
Mallard
Cinnamon Teal
Hooded Merganser
Ring-necked Pheasant
California Quail
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Virginia Rail
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Least Sandpiper
Mourning Dove
Vaux's Swift
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Western Wood-Pewee
Steller's Jay
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick's Wren
Marsh Wren
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Bullock's Oriole
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Monday, July 12, 2010

Identification: Clark's and Western Grebes

Clark's GrebeClark's Grebe in breeding plumage, Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, Oregon on 5 July 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

I don't get to see Clark's Grebes often. They nest primarily east of the Cascades, where I may see them on annual spring visits to Malheur NWR. They tend to winter farther south than Oregon. Thus, I see them only occasionally as edge-of-range migrants, either inland or coastally.

This single bird (above) has been summering near my home for a month now, and I was able to get a few good photos at fairly close range. This was a good opportunity for me to study this bird that is locally rare in NW Oregon.

The Clark's Grebe was originally described as a species in 1858 at the same time as the Western Grebe. Soon thereafter they were lumped together and considered just different color phases of the same species, called Western Grebe. Thus they stayed until 1985, when Clark's Grebe was again given full species status.

Besides plumage differences, which I will discuss below, the Clark's Grebe has a single "kreeek" breeding display call, while Western Grebe gives a two-syllable call of "kree-eek" as they dance across the water together, running side-by-side with their bills held high. Downy young of Western Grebes are gray; downy young of Clark's Grebes are white. Where they occur together (over most of their range, actually), they tend to mate assortively, separating themselves from each other. Hybrids are known, however, and are intermediate in plumage characters.

As seen by the above photo, the breeding Clark's Grebe has the red eye surrounded by white feathers of the face. Most importantly, in all plumages, the bill is bright yellow-orange.


Clark's GrebeClark's Grebe, Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, Oregon on 5 July 2010 by Greg Gillson. Click on photo for larger views.














Because some birds appear intermediate, and may be hybrids, there are some supporting identification marks that are important to note. The dark hind-neck is thinner on Clark's Grebe than on Western Grebe. The back and wings tend to be slightly paler on Clark's and one can often note the difference in shade between the black crown and paler lower neck and back (photo above).


Clark's GrebeClark's Grebe in non-breeding plumage, Brownsmead, Clatsop Co., Oregon on 31 December 2007 by Greg Gillson. Click on photo for larger views.














Western and Clark's Grebes are most-similar in plumage during winter. In this third photo (above) note the orange bill color and white triangle on the lores, in front of the eye. This should be enough to identify this bird as Clark's Grebe. In this case, however, the dark hind-neck doesn't appear quite as thin, and the back doesn't appear quite as pale, as typical for most Clark's Grebes.


Western GrebeWestern Grebe in breeding plumage, Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, Oregon on 15 May 2008 by Greg Gillson. Click on photo for larger views.














This next photo (above) is a Western Grebe in typical breeding plumage. The black of the crown comes down to surround the eye. The lores are dark. The yellowish bill has a definite greenish cast. Supporting marks are the slightly wider dark hind-neck stripe, and darker back.


Western GrebeWestern Grebe in non-breeding plumage, Garibaldi, Tillamook Co., Oregon on 17 January 2009 by Greg Gillson. Click on photo for larger views.














This final photo (above) shows a Western Grebe in non-breeding plumage. It varies very little from the breeding plumage.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Spotted Towhee in the rain

Spotted TowheeSpotted Towhee in the rain at Cooper Mountain Nature Park, Beaverton, Oregon on 15 June 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

Since we're in the second day of above-90 degree temperatures, my mind began to drift back to the cool rainy days of spring when we thought summer would never come. In other words, just two weeks ago.

I was birding up at the new Cooper Mountain Nature Park on a hill south of Beaverton, Oregon. During our hike it started sprinkling a bit. The towhees didn't seem to mind, singing away. [Click for previous blog posts on Spotted Towhees.]

In this photo you can see the raindrops, as streaks, frozen in time. Exactly 1/160th of a second, to be precise, according to the camera settings. OK, my mind churns, the towhee is about 8 inches long and the raindrop streak looks to be approximately one inch long. Distance divided by Time equals Rate, according to algebra learned some time between the 5th and 8th grade. Thus, 1 inch divided by 1/160th of a second equals 160 inches per second, or... 9.1 miles per hour!

A quick Google! search for "how fast does rain fall?" leads me to several sites where I learn that a raindrop falls 5 to 18 miles per hour. Any faster and the raindrop breaks apart and slows down. File that trivia away for the next time conversation drags at your party!

[This post has been rewritten on 12 July 2010. Thanks to Mike Patterson for helping me correct my math errors on the earlier post.]

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Jackson Bottom birds: July 2-8, 2010

Barn SwallowBarn Swallow chicks at Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Hillsboro, Oregon on 7 July 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

It's been a hot week at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro, Oregon. Water levels are dropping.

Breeding season is in full swing with spotted juvenile AMERICAN ROBINS obvious throughout the riparian areas.

Some signs of fall migration this week included a GREAT EGRET and a couple of LEAST SANDPIPERS.

Otherwise, it has been rather quiet--at least in regard to any new or exciting bird sightings. The best birding is 6-8 am, before most people arrive. In this heat the birds quiet down quickly as the sun rises higher in the sky. As a result, this week's list of reported birds is much shorter than usual.

Canada Goose
Gadwall
Mallard
Cinnamon Teal
Ring-necked Pheasant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Mourning Dove
Vaux's Swift
Rufous Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Western Wood-Pewee
Western Scrub-Jay
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick's Wren
Marsh Wren
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Common Yellowthroat
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Monday, July 5, 2010

Oregon Shorebird Festival: August 27-29, 2010

Chipping SparrowA rare Buff-breasted Sandpiper on the Oregon Shorebird Festival, Coos Bay, Oregon, on 1 September 2007 by Greg Gillson.

 

Experience the wonder of shorebird migration along the scenic Oregon coast at the 24th Oregon Shorebird Festival to be held August 27-29, 2010. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Cape Arago Audubon Society, South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve and many other sponsors will have a full weekend of activities planned for birders of all skill levels. The festival is headquartered at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology in Charleston, OR. Activities include expertly guided land based field trips to Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, Millicoma Marsh and the greater Coos Bay area. And for those who want to experience birding on the water, The Bird Guide, Inc. will offer a five hour pelagic trip on Saturday. Expected seabirds include Black-footed Albatross, Parasitic Jaeger, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, Sooty & Pink-footed Shearwater, Pomarine Jaeger, Red-necked Phalarope, Cassin's Auklets, and more. The Friday evening programs on will feature Ram Papish and the "The Great Oregon Bird Quiz." Saturday's keynote speaker will be Peter Moore “Saving the Chatham Island Oystercatcher.”

Bring your best pair of binoculars as Bandon Marsh and Coos Bay are renowned for shorebird watching and each year a few rarities have delighted festival attendees. Regular migrants include Black-bellied plover, Semipalmated plover, Western sandpiper, Least sandpiper, Dunlin, Whimbrel, Long-billed dowitcher, and Red-necked phalarope. Please join us on the southern coast of Oregon for a weekend of birding fun and challenges. To register for the festival or for more information please visit our website at www.fws.gov/oregoncoast/shorebirdfestival.htm or contact Dawn Grafe at 541-867-4550.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Jackson Bottom birds: June 25 - July 1, 2010

Nest and eggs of Spotted Towhee, Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve, Hillsboro, Oregon on 24 June 2010 by Sarah Pinnock.

 

Breeding season activities continue at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro, Oregon.

A drake RUDDY DUCK and a female BUFFLEHEAD were likely non-breeding wanderers. They mey either not have nested anywhere or their nesting attempts elsewhere may have failed.

The grass is now mowed and the rain (mostly) stopped, so the entire Preserve trail system is open. A nest of BARN SWALLOWS fledged during the week. Other new nests found this week include AMERICAN ROBIN and SPOTTED TOWHEE (above). Recently fledged TREE SWALLOWS, BUSHTITS, WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS, HOUSE FINCHES, EUROPEAN STARLINGS, and other birds are now seen regularly.

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Gadwall
Mallard
Cinnamon Teal
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Ring-necked Pheasant
California Quail
American Bittern
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Virginia Rail
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Mourning Dove
Vaux's Swift
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Western Wood-Pewee
Willow Flycatcher
Western Scrub-Jay
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Bushtit
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Marsh Wren
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Common Yellowthroat
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch