SAS Minto-Brown Island Park Bird Walk Report

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SAS Minto-Brown Island Park Bird Walk Report

September 11, 2024 

This morning, Tim and I led the Salem Audubon Minto-Brown Island Park bird walk. We were joined by eight (8) birders for our adventure. We moved to parking lot #1 so we could bird along the Willamette Slough. We walked from the parking lot to Willamette Slough then northwest to the dog park and around to the pond across from parking lot #1.  It was a nice morning with clouds and some clearing. The temperature ranged from 57 to 61 degrees with winds from 8 to 16 m.p.h. with gusts to 22 m.p.h. We walked 3.2 miles, and the walk took about 2.65 hours.  We observed (saw or heard) 35 species.

The highlights were as follows:

·         The nicest observation was seeing a Virginia Rail feeding along the slough. The rail was along the slough after crossing the bridge and walking a short distance to the east toward the slough.  It was on the right side of the path.

·         The Willamette Slough was very productive with about 20 species observed.  We saw Greater Yellowlegs, Killdeer, Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, and three species of ducks including several Wood Ducks to name a few.

·         The only warbler species seen was a Common Yellowthroat.  But what a view it was as it flew out into the field onto a tangle of weeds in plain view.  Everyone got magnificent views of the bird.

·         The birds of the day were Mallards (32), Cedar Waxwings (30), and Song Sparrow (28).  The Song Sparrows seemed to be everywhere throughout the walk while the Mallards and waxwings were in large groups.

·         Other nice sightings were Western Flycatcher, Hairy Woodpecker, Western Tanager, and an early Golden-crowned Sparrow.

·         Once we returned to the parking lot after the walk some of us heard a Hutton’s Vireo. 

There are many upcoming bird walks including:

 

Baskett Slough NWR, Sunday, September 15, 2024 at 9:00 A.M.  Meet at the Rich Guadagno Trailhead Parking lot on Coville Road.

 

Keizer Rapids Park, Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 9:00 A.M.  Meet in the last parking lot near the boat ramp at the end of Walsh Way N.  Address: 900 Chemawa Rd N.

 

Willamette Mission State Park, Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 9:00 A.M.  Meet in the Filbert Grove day-use area.  A state park pass is required for this location.  Single-day permits can be purchased for $5.00 from the fee station near the park entrance.

 

Ankeny NWR Field Trip, Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 7:30 AM. Meet at the Ankeny Hill Nature Center parking lot off Ankeny Hill Road.

 

Illahe Hills CC – Monday, September 23, 2024 at 8:00 AM.  Please contact the leader at paule...@gmail.com to confirm your registration for this trip. Registered participants should meet at the Country Club entrance at 8:00 AM. Please Park in the main parking area, not in front of the clubhouse! 

Please join us if you can. 

Mike Unger

Keizer, OR 

Minto-Brown Island Park Checklist Summary for September 11, 2024

Identified Species: 35 

5 Wood Duck
32 Mallard
6 Green-winged Teal
18 California Quail
2 Pied-billed Grebe
1 Anna's Hummingbird
1 Virginia Rail
4 Killdeer
5 Greater Yellowlegs
4 Great Blue Heron
3 Turkey Vulture
1 Belted Kingfisher
1 Hairy Woodpecker
8 Northern Flicker
1 Western Wood-Pewee
1 Western Flycatcher (Pacific-slope)
1 Hutton's Vireo
1 Warbling Vireo
3 Steller's Jay
3 California Scrub-Jay
5 Black-capped Chickadee
10 Bushtit
1 Red-breasted Nuthatch
3 Brown Creeper
2 Bewick's Wren
13 European Starling
3 Swainson's Thrush
9 American Robin
30 Cedar Waxwing
4 Lesser Goldfinch
1 Golden-crowned Sparrow
28 Song Sparrow
2 Spotted Towhee
2 Common Yellowthroat
1 Western Tanager

View this checklist online at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S194757809