Corvallis bats, Dunawi Cr. plants, Gadwall and mini mystery beast

[lisa...@peak.org]

Yesterday at Avery Park, Don & I enjoyed watching a nesting female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD drinking nectar from TALL LARKSPURS. 

 

There was also a miniature MYSTERY BEAST running around in the brush.  I have a little story about this creature, but I wondered if anyone wants to try to guess what it is from a bad picture I took first.

 

Last night was Bat Night at Starker Park, part of Natural Areas Celebration Week.  Fortunately, the bats put on quite a show for the more than 30 adults and kids.  First to appear  were about 6 BIG BROWN BATS who delighted the crowd with their daring swoops and dives right over us.  Next, about a dozen tiny YUMA BATS (most likely that's what they are) came out to skim over the water's surface, while we all listened to the sonar clicks on the bat detector and caught a few of them in the spotlight beam. 

 

We took a walk along the "wild side" of Dunawi Creek in Sunset Park tonight.  There were quite a few IDAHO BLUE-EYED GRASS blooming, some SMALL CAMAS, and lots of leaves of NELSON'S CHECKERMALLOW, SLENDER CINQUEFOIL, GAIRDNER'S YAMPAH and other plants that have yet to bloom.  The AMERICAN BEAVERS were enjoying more fresh willow growth.  There were a number of large blue "mosaic darners" mating and laying eggs, which I believe were CALIFORNIA DARNERS. The most surprising bird there tonight was a single female GADWALL...a new neighborhood bird for us.

 

Lisa Millbank

www.neighborhood-naturalist.com