Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Newport, Oregon on 7 March 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

Earlier in the month I spent the weekend at Newport, Oregon. Around the Marine Science Center I found this Chestnut-backed Chickadee (see previous post about this species).

It was a cloudy morning, as it often is along the Oregon coast. I shot this at ISO 800 equivalent, which gives it a bit of grainy appearance.

The Chestnut-backed Chickadee was described to science by its discoverer, John Kirk Townsend, in 1837. He obtained the type specimen during a trip to the Oregon country in 1834-1836. He didn't keep very accurate notes about where he collected each species. His collection location for the Chestnut-backed Chickadee he shot was entered as the "forests of the Columbia River." So the type location of Chestnut-backed Chickadee became Ft. Vancouver, Washington, where he spent the most time after he arrived.

Townsend's lackadaisical note-keeping also produced some odd records. For instance, he named several southern seabirds from Oregon. These, no doubt, came from ocean trips to South America he made about the same time.

Glaucous-winged Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull, at sea off Newport, Oregon on 6 March 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

In the 1953 book, Birds of Washington State, Jewett, Taylor, Shaw, and Aldrich described the southern edge of the breeding range of Glaucous-winged Gull as Destruction Island, Washington, nearly due west of Mt. Olympus on the Olympic Peninsula. Likewise, that island about 4 miles offshore was the northern edge of the breeding range of the much darker Western Gull.

Today the situation is much different--for the Glaucous-winged Gull, anyway. This pale gray gull, with upper wingtips concolorous (in all plumages) with the rest of the upper wing and back, now breeds south to the central Oregon coast.

The range expansion created a new population dynamic. In the 200 miles where the two ranges now overlap, Glaucous-winged and Western Gulls hybridize extensively. The fertile crosses and back-crosses span the entire spectrum from looking quite pale like Glaucous-winged Gull to very dark like Western Gulls. The hybrid swarm is often referred to by birders in the Pacific NW as "Olympic Gulls." In fact, many birders along the central Washington coast do not try to differentiate them, even when surveying seabirds.

In winter, Glaucous-winged and hybrid gulls are common along the coastline south to San Francisco or farther, in the Puget Sound area, and inland in the larger towns west of the Cascades, and increasingly as vagrants across North America. In contrast, "pure-looking" Western Gulls are rare away from the immediate coast.

As with most larger gulls, they are omnivorous, eating anything they can swallow. They are common in garbage dumps and parking lots of fast-food establishments.

Jackson Bottom birds, March 20-26, 2010

A new migrant this week was SAVANNAH SPARROW. Several were noted starting March 24. On March 26 came the first report of COMMON YELLOWTHROAT.

Other migrants increased in numbers, including TREE SWALLOWS, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and TURKEY VULTURES.

A EURASIAN WIGEON was reported March 20 and a PEREGRINE FALCON put in an appearance on March 26.

BUSHTITS are building nests now. The GREAT HORNED OWL chick is about 2/3 of adult size.

Otherwise, a fairly quiet week bird-wise.

Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Ring-necked Pheasant
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Peregrine Falcon
Killdeer
Greater Yellowlegs
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Steller's Jay
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Bushtit
White-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick's Wren
Marsh Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Townsend's Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch
Pine Siskin
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch

Bewick's Wren, an early spring singer

Bewick's Wren, Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Hillsboro, Oregon on 4 March 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

Throughout its range across North America, the Bewick's Wren (previous article) shows much plumage and song variation.

In addition, populations in Eastern North America are declining, while many populations in Western North America are expanding.

The 1979 book, The Birds of Canada by Earl Godfrey, shows Bewick's Wrens in extreme southern Ontario and extreme southwestern British Columbia. This species disappeared from Ontario in the 1970's and, in fact, retracted its range about 700 miles in the East. By the year 2000, according to the map in The National Geographic's Complete Birds of North America (2006) edited by Jonathan Alderfer, the wren perhaps now breeds no closer than southwestern Kentucky.

In contrast, the Bewick's Wrens in the Pacific Northwest are expanding their range inland along the Columbia River. Historically, they were common along the Columbia River only west of the Cascades, with a small isolated population near Yakima, Washington. In the last 30-40 years, though, they have expanded upriver until they are regular to the Walla Walla River and other areas surrounding the corner where Washington, Idaho, and Oregon meet.

The photo above shows a typical example of the population called the Seattle Wren (Thryomanes bewicki calophonus). This is the form found from SW BC, western Washington and Oregon (from Cascades to coast) south to Roseburg and Coos Bay, Oregon. [It is also likely the form expanding up the Columbia River to the east, but this has not been proved definitively.] It is browner and darker than most other forms in the West, slightly more reddish on the flanks and larger, with longer bill, tarsus, and middle toe.

The subspecies name, calophonus, means a beautiful singer. This bird does, indeed, have a variety of songs. Most take the form of Song Sparrow, with a few introductory chip notes and a trill. But there is much variation. These birds are one of the first singers of spring, singing away in March or, indeed, even the odd sunny day in mid-winter. They sing throughout the day, and throughout the remainder of the year to late fall.

For more information on this wren, including the calophonus subspecies of the Pacific Northwest, see the Bewick's Wren account in Bent's Life Histories of North American Birds.

At the pond... Hooded Merganser

Hooded Merganser, Hillsboro, Oregon on 16 February 2009 by Greg Gillson.

 

What is it that makes the Hooded Merganser such a desirable bird to see? Why is it on everyone's list of favorite ducks?

Well, certainly, birds with crests seem to be favorites (think cardinal, pileated woodpecker, and cedar waxwing). As crests go, the Hooded Merganser's flamboyant fan-like headdress is pretty impressive!

But this striking beauty rarely parades around in the middle of the pond showing off with all the other ducks. Instead, like searching for hid treasure, this secretive inhabitant of backwaters and wooded pond edges usually takes a bit of effort to find.

Hooded Mergansers breed along forested ponds and streams across the mid-latitudes of North America, wintering coastally and southward where water remains open in winter.

In the Pacific NW, they breed in wooded wetlands, most commonly west of the Cascades. They also breed at scattered locations east of the Cascades, such as in NE Oregon, across northern Washington and southern British Columbia, to northern Idaho. They winter throughout the region on open water, though most commonly on freshwater ponds and quiet rivers west of the Cascade crest.

They nest in old flicker holes and will nest in artifical nest boxes designed for Wood Ducks. The chicks are precocious and leave the nest cavity for protected waters the next day after hatching.

They dive for fish, aquatic insects, and crustaceans.

Jackson Bottom birds: March 13-19, 2010

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

Following the (bird photography) rules

American Robin, Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve, Hillsboro, Oregon on February 25, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

There are several "rules" in bird photography that help make a pleasing composition. There can be times to break those rules. In this photograph, however, I stayed within the rules for pleasing results.

First, get the bird's eyes in focus. Most people agree that if the subjects eyes are in focus that the photo as a whole is in focus--even if distant parts of the bird may actually be out-of-focus. And get a catchlight in the eye--that little sparkle of light. If the eye is in shadow and all dark, it doesn't appear as "alive" as it should.

Secondly, give the bird extra space both above the head and in front of the bird in the direction which the bird is facing.

Third, get on the same level as the bird; do not shoot up or down at the bird. In this case, the foreground and background fade away pleasantly as I crouched down to get as close as I could to the bird's level.

Fourth, use natural light or, if necessary, use only a subdued fill-flash. Flash may garishly brighten a bird's colors and make the bird look like a two-dimensional cut-out. In this case I used only natural morning light. The morning light has a pleasing golden cast and the directional side lighting creates shadow for a realistic, three-dimensional shape.

Other techniques come down to personal taste--the photographer's style. I have been following Rich Ditch's photography blog. His personal taste is for understated colors and earth tones. This photo falls into that category. Rich also prefers to back off--not cropping tightly--and show more of the bird-in-habitat. I believe this photo is in the style of Rich Ditch.

In the backyard... Lesser Goldfinch

Lesser Goldfinch, Forest Grove, Oregon on 11 April 2009 by Greg Gillson.

 

The Lesser Goldfinch is rather local and rare in the Pacific NW. However, it is nearly as abundant as American Goldfinch in the Willamette Valley of Oregon (especially the west side), in the Rogue and Umpqua Valleys of SW Oregon and in the Klamath Basin in southern Oregon and northern California. This species is much less common east of the Cascades in isolated canyons of eastern and central Oregon. It also occurs in southern Idaho, and in extreme south-central Washington State near the town of Lyle. The bird is rare on the coast north of Coos Bay.

The typical habitat for this species throughout most of its range is dry canyons of oaks. East of the Cascades they are found in riparian areas. They are often found in towns, as well.

Specializing in weed seeds, these cheerful singers with the mournful calls quickly find thistle feeders in backyards offering Niger seeds. Drinking water will also attract these bright-colored birds.

Jackson Bottom Birds: March 6-12, 2010

Up to 3 COMMON GOLDENEYES were on Pintail Pond on March 10.

The GREAT HORNED OWL hatched an egg during the week. The fluffy chick was photographed March 7.

The BALD EAGLES are spending much time together this week on the nest. Egg laying is probably imminent.

A light movement of migrants was noted during the week. A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was detected as well as a white-striped form of WHITE-THROATED SPARROW.

Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
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
Killdeer
Greater Yellowlegs
Dunlin
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Snipe
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Anna's Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Steller's Jay
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Bushtit
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Marsh Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch
Pine Siskin
Lesser Goldfinch
House Sparrow

At the coast... Surf Scoter

Surf Scoter, Newport, Oregon on 19 April 2008 by Greg Gillson.

 

This bizarre-looking duck is quite common on the coastal bays and nearshore waters of the Pacific NW, as well as in Puget Sound. Of the three scoter species in the Pacific NW, this is by far the most abundant locally.

Though it nests in boreal forests in Alaska and across northern Canada, some one-year old non-breeders can be found along the coastline of the Pacific NW even in summer. Fall through spring this is an abundant duck in nearshore surf and estuaries.

Surf Scoters are rather rare inland in the Pacific NW. In late fall they can sometimes be found on larger lakes and reservoirs throughout the region.

Interestingly, the male Surf Scoter can be mistaken for the usually less abundant Tufted Puffin. That is because they are both blackish with orange feet, and white, black, and orange on the bill. A closer view will reveal the puffins rounder wings, shorter neck, and differently-shaped bill.

Female Surf Scoters are dark brownish-black with white at the base of the bill and on the ear coverts. First-year males are about half way between adult males and females in appearance.

More than half the diet of Surf Scoters is mussels and clams that they pry from underwater rocks just beyond the breakers. In spring they gather in estuaries for the herring spawn to consume the eggs of this abundant fish.

Free bird walk Wednesdays

Northern Flicker, Jackson Bottom Wetlands, Hillsboro, Oregon on 8 March 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

It seems quite early, but this Northern Flicker apparently already is excavating a nesting cavity.

This bird is just one of the 55 species seen this morning on an impromptu bird walk at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Wednesdays are going to be my free bird walk days, going forward...

From 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. on Wednesdays I will lead bird walks at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve (map) from the Education Center. We'll start this week, March 10 and 17, then skip a few weeks and start again regularly on April 21. We'll walk liesurely on up to 3 miles of wetland trails (can be a bit muddy, but no wading).

For one hour at noon (starting April 7) is Wednesday's regular Lunch With The Birds. For this community program I'll set up scopes on the back deck of the Jackson Bottom Education Center and greet visitors and answer their bird questions as we watch the many birds visible from that new location. Until then we will still meet at the North View Shelter, which provides distant views of the Bald Eagle nest.

Then, starting March 24, I will lead a free Wednesday bird walk at the Hillsboro Library Main Branch (map), from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. This is near the Hillsboro Airport off Brookwood Parkway, and we'll walk a mile or so of the paved walkways around Dawson Creek Corporate Park. Many ducks winter here, and some are residents, including the striking Wood Ducks. Acorn Woodpeckers have a large colony in the swale behind the park. Park on the north side near the Bike Pavillion.

Attendance is limited to about 15 persons for the Jackson Bottom and the Hillsboro Library bird walks, so advanced registration is requested. Send email to Greg Gillson at greg@thebirdguide.com to see if space is available.

I hope to see you at one of these activities on Wednesdays!

Jackson Bottom birds: February 27-March 5, 2010

Willows and Osoberry and Salmonberry are blooming, as well as some non-native flowering cherry or plum trees, such as the one in the photo above. The grass is greening up. But most other trees and shrubs are still bare sticks with, perhaps, some buds just starting to form.

TREE SWALLOWS returned in force this week. A single BARN SWALLOW noted at the end of last week was present early this week. It is about 5 weeks early, generally not arriving until the first week of April. A VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW was spotted March 3.

A EURASIAN-COLLARED DOVE put in an appearance for a few minutes at the bird feeder this week. They are still only occasional visitors to the Preserve; the wetlands habitat is not really ideal habitat for these recent invaders.

Amazingly, MARSH WRENS are singing away and we found a recently built nest. This is probably a "dummy nest" as described in this article in the 1990 issue of the Auk.

The Northern Shrike is still being seen near the Dogwood Viewing Area on Blue Heron Trail (map; key). The patagial marked Red-tailed Hawk seems to have taken up residence. The eggs of the Great Horned Owl must just about be ready to hatch.

This week's birdlist:

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
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
American Coot
Killdeer
Dunlin
Wilson's Snipe
Mew Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Anna's Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Northern Shrike
Steller's Jay
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Violet-green 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
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
House Finch
Pine Siskin
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

At the pond... Green-winged Teal

Green-winged Teal, Hillsboro, Oregon on January 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

The Green-winged Teal is a tiny duck that is a rather common migant and winter visitor throughout the Pacific NW. It breeds east of the Cascades in grassy marshes. Small numbers are often found in summer west of the Cascades, and while breeding has occurred, actual nesting records are sparse.

Males give a distinctive piping whistle call, while females give a quiet series of quacks.

These smallest of North American ducks feed on seeds of grasses and sedges, as well as taking some invertebrates.

Besides the small size, the males are identified by the white vertical stripe on the gray side of the breast. They have a chestnut head with green eye patch. The sides of the undertail coverts are buffy yellow, the remainder of the undertail coverts black. Females are mottled brown with a dark crown and a dark line through the eye. Both sexes show a green wing patch on the secondary flight feathers.

Like all dabbling (or puddle) ducks, these birds tip up to feed, rather than dive. They also spring from the water directly into flight, rather than running to take off as the diving/bay ducks.