A Mid-Day Skirmish

January 8, 2020, and a new yard bird—#73—makes a dramatic appearance in the backyard.

#73 is a Sharp-shinned hawk.

#73 flew in quickly today, snatched a specimen belonging to #16 (Spotted Towhee), and settled down in the grass for a few minutes (very-still towhee in talons) before flying off. I noticed this skirmish after hearing a small but loud cry (poor towhee) then looked over to see the latter half of the scene.

Wild! I feel awful for the towhee. I bait towhees with delicious seed and inadvertently baited a sharpie with a delicious towhee. I have a lot of towhees, so I suppose I can spare a few? I still feel a bit awful. RIP towhee. I think you went quickly.

Sharpie spent maybe 2 minutes sitting here, and I quickly took a few shots through my office window. I was tempted to open the window, but sharpie would have certainly flown off.

I alternated between taking photographs and viewing this scene through my binoculars. It appears that the towhee went quickly. The time between the sharp, small cry of the towhee and a very-still towhee was less than 1 minute.

RIP towhee. Nice work sharpie. He then flew off with his chunky red-eyed lunch.

January 5, 2020

It’s a blog revival! Since you were last here, the blog has appropriately changed from Oregon Big Year to Sauntering Birder, and I have changed locations. I’m still in the Pacific Northwest, but we moved up to southwest Washington in June 2019. Moving is all consuming, and the months that followed were made up of many highs and and one real low. Nevertheless, the blog was unintentionally put to sleep for a bit.

I haven’t stopped birding of course, and I haven’t stopped taking photos. So, consider this a long photo-based catch up of the birds and birding locations I’ve enjoyed these past several months in my new backyard and 5-mile radius (5MR).

My office window,  January 2020. You can see my feeders at the bottom left, Lacamas Creek, and to the top right, the Washougal River. I do get work done, I promise.

My new 5MR is HOT. Let me tell you about it right now.

As you can see, our backyard overlooks some great habitat and is thus exceptionally birdy. This may have been a key factor in deciding on this exact location. Since we moved here in June, my yard list is at 72. On eBird my yard is called “Lacamas Creek-Washougal River Confluence Area (and backyard feeders)”.

My daily fall-winter yard visitor, the Golden-crowned Sparrow, January 2020.

My daily summer yard visitor, the Black-headed Grosbeak (female), July 2019.

My daily all-season visitor, the Spotted Towhee, fall 2019.

Beyond our backyard is a series of walking paths (some paved, some not) that make up the Washougal River Greenway Trail. I can see part of the unpaved trail from my yard. The unpaved trail winds through a floodplain comprising mainly Oregon Ash. The paved portion follows the Washougal River, crosses the river, and passes through and by a young riparian forest and some old quarry ponds.

Bridge on the Washougal River Greenway Trail, summer 2019.

Me and my Dad in November 2019 on the Washougal River Greenway Trail.

Quarry pond along the Washougal River Greenway Trail, fall 2019.

Queue the Twin Peaks theme song, it’s the Pacific Northwest classic, the Varied Thrush! In December 2019 and now in January 2020, there is one very reliable spot for this species along the Washougal trail.

My Mom in June 2019 on the Washougal River Greenway Trail.

Down the street and a 2-minute walk from our house is the trailhead to Lacamas Creek Park. The approximately 40-acre park is in a dense Douglas-fir forest (some old-growth) and has myriad unpaved trails and three waterfalls. The main trail follows Lacamas Creek, whose flow is controlled from a dam upstream at Round Lake. Round Lake is also part of the park and provides added habitat diversity and superb flatwater kayaking.

Lacamas Creek Park, November 2019.

Lacamas Creek Park, Woodburn Falls, and Clint, December 2019.

Lacamas Creek Park, January 2020.

Lacamas Creek, Lacamas Creek Park, January 2020.

Who is that over there?! It’s an American Dipper! I’ve seen these in December 2019 and again in January 2020. Lacamas Creek, January 2020.

The dipper flew in closer and had a partner! This was the best shot I could get, but I was thrilled. Lacamas Creek, January 2020.

Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge is just barely within our 5MR. The refuge features riparian forests, wetted fields, and ponds. It’s currently undoing a massive makeover, the Steigerwald Floodplain Restoration Project. The project will eventually connect the refuge and Gibbons Creek Watershed to the Columbia River and restore approximately 900 acres of Columbia River floodplain habitat.

Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge with Mount Hood in the background, January 2020.

Nesting Purple Martins, Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, August 2019.

American Kestrals in some Mountain Ash, Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, August 2019.

Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, August 2019.

Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, August 2019.

April 29, 2019

Salem, Oregon, and I’m sure other parts of the Pacific Northwest, is abundant in Bushtits. These little nuggets of pure joy are currently out and about, building their nests, amending the insides, feeding, and calling. No matter where I go in Salem these past few weeks, I hear and see Bushtits (they are calling right now outside my window).

During nest construction, Bushtit males and females gather plant materials (e.g., moss) and other fine items (e.g., spider webs) to make a sock-like nest with an opening near the top. This sock is attached firmly to a tree or large shrub. Post-construction, they continue to amend the inside of the nest, preparing the inside for egg-laying perfection.

While birding the Capitol property last week, I found three Bushtit nests and confirmed that two were active. On April 29, I visited one of the active nests in a cedar tree (Cedrus sp.) to see if I could get some shots of one of the adult Bushtits arriving or leaving nest. I set up my camera and tripod, pointed up at the nest and focused, sat down, and waited and watched from a distance as they came and went from their nest. With an incredible amount of patience, and a lot of crappy, blurry shots, I managed to catch a few decent shots of an adult female leaving the nest (adult females have white eyes).

April 20, 2019

I heard my very first Northern Pygmy Owl. It was at Wilhoit Springs County Park in Clackamas County, Oregon, on April 20. There were two calling back and forth. I also had fun shooting this very vocal White-Crowned Sparrow.

 

Fort Myers, Florida, March 7–15 (Part 4 of 4)

I promise that this is the last post about my 2019 Florida trip. Nobody cares anymore, I know. After this, we are back to birding in the PNW (until I go to Utah, then watch out).

This post is a handful of mini-posts. I’ll keep the text “short,” and I’ll be generous with the photos. Here we go.

March 11, 2019: After my trip to the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, I headed north to find Scissor-tailed Flycatchers. En-route, I found another target bird—the Roseate Spoonbill! The spoonbills were in a wet field with an assortment of egrets, etc. If Florida had an egret-heron punch card, I would have all spots punched except for one at this point. eBird checklist here.

A medley of waders; Immokalee Road; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Roseate Spoonbill; Immokalee Road; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Roseate Spoonbill (judging you) and a Snowy Egret; Immokalee Road; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Roseate Spoonbills; Immokalee Road; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Great Egret and Snowy Egrets; Immokalee Road; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Great Egret; Immokalee Road; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Snowy Egret; Immokalee Road; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Cattle Egret (hey I’m different!); Immokalee Road; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Roseate Spoonbill and Wood Stork; Immokalee Road; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

After enjoying this wader medley, I went straight to my flycatcher spot, scared an alligator into a canal (splash!), and then a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher flew into view! How perfect. It stayed long enough for me to get a really terrible photo. I’m including it here because it’s a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher! My goal next year is to get better photos of this bird. It’s a gorgeous bird. I also saw Swallow-tailed Kites here and continued to see them (always while driving) for the remainder of my trip. eBird checklist here.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher; Church Road; Hendry County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

March 13, 2019: My dad and I spent the day at J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. It was really hot. We didn’t find any Mangrove Cuckoos, but we did find another one of my target birds—the Reddish Egret. My Florida egret-heron punch card is complete!  Florida has a total of 6 heron species and 4 egret species, and I saw them all on this trip. eBird checklists here and here and here.

My birding partner, my dad, Tom; J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge; March 13, 2019.

Tricolored Heron; J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge; March 13, 2019.

Osprey; J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge; March 13, 2019.

Little Blue Heron; J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge; March 13, 2019.

Mangrove Swamps (with some Blue-winged Teals); J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge; March 13, 2019.

Coolest Birders; J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge; March 13, 2019.

Mangrove Swamp (Mangrove Cuckoo I’ll find you next time!); J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge; March 13, 2019.

Mangrove Swamp; J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge; March 13, 2019.

Along Wildlife Drive; J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge; March 13, 2019.

White Pelicans; Mangrove Swamp; J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge; March 13, 2019.

White Pelicans and a Reddish Egret; J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge; March 13, 2019.

Reddish Egret; J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge; March 13, 2019.

Reddish Egret; J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge; March 13, 2019.

March 14, 2019: My last day in Florida, and I’m off to return my rental car to the airport. But wait! Was there not a reliable spot to find Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks? Yes, there was/is, and it’s just north of the airport. Off to get the whistling ducks (piles of them!), then to the airport for a very long day of travelling.

Gateway Boulevard; Lee County, Florida; north of the airport; March 14, 2019. This was my view of the whistling-ducks. This is a gated community and I had to be discrete and quick! I parked at some type of mega-church across the street, ran across the street, enjoyed the whistling quackers for a few minutes, took a few zoomed-in shots, and absconded.

Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks (very nervous looking); Gateway Boulevard; Lee County, Florida; north of the airport; March 14, 2019.

Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks; Gateway Boulevard; Lee County, Florida; north of the airport; March 14, 2019.

Florida, I will see you in exactly 1 year.

With love, Linda

 

 

Fort Myers, Florida, March 7–15, 2019 (Part 3 of 4)

Florida has its own species of scrub-jay. It’s endemic to Florida, federally threatened, and appropriately named the Florida Scrub-Jay, Aphelocoma coerulescens. Florida also has its own subspecies of Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia floridana. Both species have some overlapping habitat preferences: open sandy areas with low-growing scrub-shrubs. Fortunately for me, this habitat is in the Fort Myers area in nearby Cape Coral. Before I drove out to the site, I reviewed this beautiful map of the Cape Coral area.

A computer motherboard or Cape Coral, Florida?

Welcome to Cape Coral, Florida, where you get your own canal. You also get your own alligator, but they don’t advertise that part. This area went through a complete landscape transformation in the 1960s. Not surprisingly, the area was “swampy” and uninhabitable by human standards. Mangrove swamps and palmetto scrublands dominated the area. Out-of-state dreamers were convinced they could turn this place into a real estate paradise. The main developer at the time “… passed off inaccessible mush as prime real estate, sold the same swampy lots to multiple buyers, and used listening devices to spy on its customers” (Grunwald 2017).

Back to the Burrowing Owls and Florida Scrub-Jays, because that’s why we’re here and because they live here, in this motherboard.

On March 10, 2019, both species were within walking distance from each other in the red circle on the image below. You can even go onto eBird and search for the scrub-jay, and you’ll see a whole cluster of points at this very spot. When I was there, so were other birders.

Cape Coral area, Florida;  Imagery 2018 Google, Map data 2018 Google.

Florida Scrub-Jay; Cape Coral, Florida; March 10, 2019. Seeing this species was pretty special for me. I now look at my own local scrub-jays (California) with more admiration.

Burrowing Owl; Cape Coral, Florida; March 10, 2019. This was a bit of a surprise. I thought I would have to drive to the other side of the motherboard to see the Florida Burrowing Owl, but apparently there are burrows throughout the motherboard. And, Florida Burrowing Owls will sometimes dig their own burrows!

Florida Burrowing Owl; Cape Coral, Florida; March 10, 2019.

Eastern Meadowlark; Cape Coral, Florida; March 10, 2019.

Loggerhead Shrike; Cape Coral, Florida; March 10, 2019.

And that, my readers who made it this far, is all I have to say right now. I thought I could fit my last few Florida posts into one post. Nope. There’s more to come. Maybe I need to move there and do a Florida big year? I’m realizing now that this blog needs a new name, too.

Next up: SPOONBILLS!

Literature Cited

Grunwald, M. 2017. The Boomtown That Shouldn’t Exist. Politico Magazine.  November/December 2017

 

 

Fort Myers, Florida, March 7–15, 2019 (Part 2 of 4)

And we’re back!

Before my trip, I did a literature review of the area, searching Florida birding websites, eBird, etc. I started a list of target birds and target areas near Fort Myers and also purchased A Birder’s Guide to Florida from the Book Bin in Salem*. The book was basically written for birders from (or travelling to) Florida and who want to know exactly where to go to bird. It’s a great book.

While reading this book, searching online, and dreaming of Painted Buntings and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, I happened upon a Fort Myers–area birding club, the Caloosa Bird Club. Formed in 1958 as a mostly seasonal club for birding “snowbirds” (aka future Linda), the club hosts field trips in the Fort Myers area in the winter, and they were holding a field trip to the Corkscrew Swamp during my stay in Florida. I quickly signed up a guest.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

On fieldtrip day, Monday, March 11, I left Fort Myers before sunrise and drove down to the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, arrived just after sunrise, found a parking spot, and met with at least 20 other birders and our Audubon tour guide.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

The sanctuary is owned by the National Audubon Society. From their website,

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary occupies approximately 13,000 acres in the heart of the Corkscrew Watershed in Southwest Florida, part of the Western Everglades. It is primarily composed of wetlands. These include the largest remaining virgin bald cypress forest in the world (approximately 700 acres), which is the site of the largest nesting colony of Federally Endangered Wood Storks in the nation. (Audubon 2019)

This place is an oasis. We birded all morning along the boardwalk trail that travels through cypress swamps, pine flatwoods, and wet prairies. The birding club members were also very gracious; because I was an out-of-state guest, they did their best to make sure I saw nearly every bird. At first, before they remembered my name, I’d hear “Where’s the guest?!” “We’ve got the bittern!” They also have club hats and nametags that they wear. Of course I wanted both.   

In all, the group collectively saw 61 species that morning! Highlights or lifers for me were Painted Bunting, Summer Tanager (the trip bird!), Anhinga, Indigo Bunting, White-eyed Vireo, Brown-headed Nuthatch, and Tufted Titmouse.

Ok, time for photos—some good, and some for the sake of simply seeing a particular bird. Enjoy!

Slash pine habitat; Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Brown-Headed Nuthatch; Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Caloosa Birding Club; slash pine habitat; Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Pileated Woodpecker; Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Indigo Bunting; Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

American Bittern; Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Giant bald cypress; Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Giant bald cypress; Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Giant bald cypress; Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Purple Gallinule; Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Anhinga; Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Mama alligator; Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Baby alligators; Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Purple Gallinule; Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Anhingas; Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

New Florida friends and a alligator; Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Caloosa Birding Club; Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Green Heron; Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Florida cottonmouth; Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Barred Owl; Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Collier County, Florida; March 11, 2019.

I love that this trip to Florida included not only new birds, but also new birding friends/contacts. I can’t wait to bird with this group again next year. 

My eBird checklist from the fieldtrip is here. 

Literature Cited

National Audubon Society. 2019. The Sanctuary. Available at: http://corkscrew.audubon.org/about/sanctuary.

Footnotes

* The Book Bin in Salem has become a sort of book-version of the Room of Requirements for me. If I have a book in mind (or really a topic I hope is covered in a book), I simply need to walk in there with intent, and within 15 minutes in the store, I find the exact book I need. I don’t even need a wand for this (even though I have one). This Florida birding book is one example, but another time, I went in looking for a book on telemark skiing, and they had such a book.

Fort Myers, Florida, March 7–15, 2019 (Part 1 of 4)

My parents are vacationing in Fort Myers, Florida, with a bunch of other retired Ontarians who have just about had it “up to here” with dirty city snow and freezing rain. My Mom would correct me right now and say that she does, actually, enjoy winters in Ontario and loves the snow. Sure you do ; )

I flew down from rainy Oregon to visit them last week, to remind myself of what the sun feels and looks like, and to bird the entire dang time. My sister and her family were also there, so I got some quality time with my 1.5-year-old nephew. Turns out, he really loves birds, or “Ba!” as he calls them right now. Oh my heart.

My parents’ street; North Fort Myers, Florida; March 8, 2019; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

I’ve been a birder for a couple of decades now, but I’m usually able to turn down the birding volume. It’s kind of like having to turn down the volume on a song you really love because you have to talk to somebody instead, or because somebody is sleeping. After doing a big year, turning down the birding volume is next to impossible, especially in a new area. Plus … FLORIDA. I warned my family ahead of time. Birding rock and roll, folks.

I flew into Fort Myers late Wednesday night. On Thursday morning, I heard a Northern Mockingbird singing outside my bedroom window. I’ve seen maybe two mockingbirds in my life. Turns out, they are ubiquitous in the Fort Myers area. What a damn treat already. Then, outside on the lawn were two White Ibis—a lifer, and quite possibly the oddest looking bird. Additional highlights from our morning walk in my parents’ neighbourhood were a handful of Palm Warblers (in actual palm trees this time), Myrtle Warblers, Northern Parulas, a gorgeous Yellow-crowed Night-Heron (lifer), and both Turkey and Black Vultures (how nice to compare these for once side-by-side). Oh, and a gator.

Northern Mockingbird; North Fort Myers, Florida; March 8, 2019; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

White Ibis; North Fort Myers, Florida; March 8, 2019; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

The neighbourhood American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) in the pond down the street; North Fort Myers, Florida; March 8, 2019; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Snowy Egret; North Fort Myers, Florida; March 8, 2019; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Snowy Egret; North Fort Myers, Florida; March 8, 2019; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Palm Point; Caloosahatche River; North Fort Myers, Florida; March 8, 2019; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

My Dad, Tom (a new birder!); Palm Point; Caloosahatche River; North Fort Myers, Florida; March 8, 2019; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron; Palm Point; Caloosahatche River; North Fort Myers, Florida; March 8, 2019; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron; Palm Point; Caloosahatche River; North Fort Myers, Florida; March 8, 2019; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron; Palm Point; Caloosahatche River; North Fort Myers, Florida; March 8, 2019; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Of course, this was just the beginning. There are so many more birds and adventures that were seen and had. Hopefully I have time to draft Part 2 of ? later on today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 9, 2019

I’m continuing to find really birdy wetland/ponded areas in my 5MR.

Today’s 5MR birding spot was the Claggett Creek Natural Area. This 42-acre area is in NE Salem and is tucked in between Highway 99E and the railroad. The area is owned by the city.  Claggett Creek runs through the area,  there are two reservoirs, and wood-chipped walking trails provide pedestrian access. Parking appears to only be at the Kroc Center across the street. Very little information about this area is available online. A heads up that the area does have a few homeless camps and associated debris strewn about. We spent a little over an hour here and got 24 species.

Claggett Creek Natural Area; Salem, Oregon; Imagery 2018 Google, Map data 2018 Google.

Claggett Creek Natural Area; Salem, Oregon; February 9, 2019; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Hooded Merganser (and an American Coot); Claggett Creek Natural Area; Salem, Oregon; February 9, 2019; photograph by Linda Burfitt. 

Claggett Creek Natural Area; Salem, Oregon; February 9, 2019; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Ruddy Duck; Claggett Creek Natural Area; Salem, Oregon; February 9, 2019; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Claggett Creek Natural Area; Salem, Oregon; February 9, 2019; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

Canvasback; Claggett Creek Natural Area; Salem, Oregon; February 9, 2019; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 5, 2019

Today was a snow day in Salem! This did not phase the Bushtits one bit.

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