Predawn chorus & Oak Creek birds
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Lisa Millbank
May 7, 2011, 7:25:28 PM5/7/11
to mid-valley Nature
We led two consecutive field trips, one at Hesthavn
(Audubon Society of Corvallis property on Oak Creek Dr.) and the other
at the nearby McDonald Forest. This was part of Natural Areas Celebration Week.
For other events, visit: http://sustainablecorvallis.org/action-teams/natural-areas/natural-areas-celebration-week/
HESTHAVN: 5:15 - 8 AM
HESTHAVN: 5:15 - 8 AM
We rode our bikes up 53rd St and Oak Creek Drive.
While riding on Oak Creek Drive at 5 AM, we heard our first singer, an AMERICAN
ROBIN. Just before arriving at Hesthavn at 5:10 AM we heard a SONG SPARROW. At
5:15, the bird chorus switch was flipped on. Many robins, SPOTTED TOWHEES and
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES were singing.
There were apparently only three other people willing to get up when they ought to be sleeping and go out to stand around in the rain. But, it was a wonderful experience, despite being rather wet. The other participants arrived at 5:30 and we were treated to the avian symphony. Other birds joined in, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, DARK-EYED JUNCO, AMERICAN CROW, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, HOUSE WREN and PACIFIC WREN. Don took a couple of recordings of the bird chorus, listen at: http://www.neighborhood-naturalist.com/neighborhood-naturalist_home.htm
When the rain started, we moved to the sheltered north side of the barn and watched some birds gather at the feeders, which included a couple GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS. While watching the trees canopy near Oak Creek, we saw dozens of WILSON'S WARBLERS, a prelude to the 100+ we would encounter throughout the rest of the day. When the rain eased a little, we found a NASHVILLE WARBLER in the maple on the other side of the barn. Other birds encountered were RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, STELLER'S JAY, EVENING GROSBEAK, WESTERN TANAGER, BAND-TAILED PIGEON, PURPLE FINCH, HERMIT THRUSH, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER and WARBLING VIREO.
MCDONALD FOREST: Homestead trail & Oak Creek 8 AM - 11 AM
(new birds for the day in all caps) This trip started with light rain which tapered off. When the bird activity was low, there were plenty of wildflowers to enjoy. Droves of cute little Wilson's Warblers were accompanied by a scattering of Orange-crowned Warblers. We had a few PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS and a couple of HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS. On the road along Oak Creek, we heard the song of a MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER and got some brief looks at him in the brush. A pair of Chestnut-backed Chickadees were excavating their nest hole in a nearby tree. Other birds we encountered were: COOPER'S HAWK, DOWNY WOODPECKER, NORTHERN FLICKER, MOURNING DOVE, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, HUTTON'S VIREO, CASSIN'S VIREO, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, Pacific Wren, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, Song Sparrow, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, PINE SISKIN and American Goldfinch.
There were apparently only three other people willing to get up when they ought to be sleeping and go out to stand around in the rain. But, it was a wonderful experience, despite being rather wet. The other participants arrived at 5:30 and we were treated to the avian symphony. Other birds joined in, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, DARK-EYED JUNCO, AMERICAN CROW, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, HOUSE WREN and PACIFIC WREN. Don took a couple of recordings of the bird chorus, listen at: http://www.neighborhood-naturalist.com/neighborhood-naturalist_home.htm
When the rain started, we moved to the sheltered north side of the barn and watched some birds gather at the feeders, which included a couple GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS. While watching the trees canopy near Oak Creek, we saw dozens of WILSON'S WARBLERS, a prelude to the 100+ we would encounter throughout the rest of the day. When the rain eased a little, we found a NASHVILLE WARBLER in the maple on the other side of the barn. Other birds encountered were RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, STELLER'S JAY, EVENING GROSBEAK, WESTERN TANAGER, BAND-TAILED PIGEON, PURPLE FINCH, HERMIT THRUSH, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER and WARBLING VIREO.
MCDONALD FOREST: Homestead trail & Oak Creek 8 AM - 11 AM
(new birds for the day in all caps) This trip started with light rain which tapered off. When the bird activity was low, there were plenty of wildflowers to enjoy. Droves of cute little Wilson's Warblers were accompanied by a scattering of Orange-crowned Warblers. We had a few PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS and a couple of HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS. On the road along Oak Creek, we heard the song of a MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER and got some brief looks at him in the brush. A pair of Chestnut-backed Chickadees were excavating their nest hole in a nearby tree. Other birds we encountered were: COOPER'S HAWK, DOWNY WOODPECKER, NORTHERN FLICKER, MOURNING DOVE, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, HUTTON'S VIREO, CASSIN'S VIREO, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, Pacific Wren, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, Song Sparrow, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, PINE SISKIN and American Goldfinch.
Flowers included Tall Larkspur, Yellow Wood Violet,
Fringe-cups, Wild Ginger, Pacific Bleedingheart, Sessile Trillium, Calypso
Orchid, Small Windflower, Pacific Waterleaf, Piggyback Plant, Great Camas and
Western Meadowrue. A couple of cute Rough-skinned Newts were living in a
ditch.
We went back to Hesthavn and visited the barn for the ASC's open house. There was a BAT (difficult to determine which species, any help is appreciated) who had been roosting behind one of the hinges of the barn door. The bat was exposed when the door was opened, giving all of us a good look at this tiny, furry critter before the door was carefully closed again.
On our way home we saw a few more birds: TURKEY VULTURE, RED-TAILED HAWK, VAUX'S SWIFT, WESTERN SCRUB-JAY, BARN SWALLOW & BEWICK'S WREN.
Lisa got a decent photo of a CHIPPING SPARROW perched on a wooden fencepost. There were a few YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS and WESTERN BLUEBIRDS catching bugs together.
We went back to Hesthavn and visited the barn for the ASC's open house. There was a BAT (difficult to determine which species, any help is appreciated) who had been roosting behind one of the hinges of the barn door. The bat was exposed when the door was opened, giving all of us a good look at this tiny, furry critter before the door was carefully closed again.
On our way home we saw a few more birds: TURKEY VULTURE, RED-TAILED HAWK, VAUX'S SWIFT, WESTERN SCRUB-JAY, BARN SWALLOW & BEWICK'S WREN.
Lisa got a decent photo of a CHIPPING SPARROW perched on a wooden fencepost. There were a few YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS and WESTERN BLUEBIRDS catching bugs together.
We also found some Oyster Mushrooms growing on a
dead tree along the roadside, and picked
some.
Lisa Millbank and Don Boucher
www.neighborhood-naturalist.com
Lisa Millbank and Don Boucher
www.neighborhood-naturalist.com
Don Boucher
May 9, 2011, 11:51:07 AM5/9/11
to mid-vall...@googlegroups.com
Hello,
I posted sound files on the Web site of the Hesthavn Predawn bird song field trip. A lot of people could get it to work. So I swapped it out with YouTube videos. There's no actual video, just a snapshot of the Hesthavn sign, but anybody who can watch YouTube can listen to the audio. The links are on the home page now:
http://www.neighborhood-naturalist.com/neighborhood-naturalist_home.htm
Or go directly to the YouTube videos:
5:30AM
http://youtu.be/qQ-B5gbspew
5:45AM
http://youtu.be/WJASWur4c4Q
Don Boucher
www.neighborhood-naturalist.com
I posted sound files on the Web site of the Hesthavn Predawn bird song field trip. A lot of people could get it to work. So I swapped it out with YouTube videos. There's no actual video, just a snapshot of the Hesthavn sign, but anybody who can watch YouTube can listen to the audio. The links are on the home page now:
http://www.neighborhood-naturalist.com/neighborhood-naturalist_home.htm
Or go directly to the YouTube videos:
5:30AM
http://youtu.be/qQ-B5gbspew
5:45AM
http://youtu.be/WJASWur4c4Q
Don Boucher
www.neighborhood-naturalist.com
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