Chip Ross Park field trip report

[Don Boucher]

Today I led a group of naturalists on a walk at Chip Ross Park in Corvallis. The rain has stopped just as we began.

Back from their Alaskan breeding grounds, Golden-crowned Sparrows were common and a first-of-the-season sighting for some of us. Acorn Woodpeckers were very active, vocal and we got many good looks at them. We got a good look at a Swainson's Thrush eating Blue Elderberries. I scouted the area yesterday and heard a Varied Thrush. Although our group didn't encounter the Varied Thrush today, some other birdwatchers told us that they had just heard one.

Here's a full list of the birds we identified:

Band-tailed Pigeon, Anna's Hummingbird, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Acorn Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Hutton's Vireo, Steller's Jay, California Scrub-Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Bushtit, White-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Western Bluebird, American Robin, Swainson's Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Spotted Towhee.

Poison-oaks are common and very colorful in the park. Some birds were enjoying their fruits and we saw chickadees eating some. A very young Black-tailed Deer buck casually crossed the path behind us. I took a photo with my phone but his itsy-bitsy antlers were hidden between his ears.

I lead free nature walks in the Corvallis area nearly monthly. If you want to get notices about upcoming field trips, you can fill out a form to be put on the email list. Members on the list get first notice for field trips.

Go to: https://neighborhood-naturalist.com

Don Boucher

Corvallis