[obol] A morning in sparrowdise: E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area, Benton County

[Joel Geier]

This report was mailed for Joel Geier by http://birdnotes.net

Date: November 20, 2006

Location: E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area (main tract), Benton County, Oregon

Birds seen (in taxonomic order):

Canada Goose                       15
Cackling Goose                     80
California Quail (heard a few)
Great Blue Heron                    1
Sharp-shinned Hawk                  2
Cooper's Hawk                       2
Red-tailed Hawk                     4
American Kestrel                    1
MERLIN                              1
Killdeer                           26
Wilson's Snipe                      1
Mourning Dove                       6
Downy Woodpecker                    7
Northern Flicker                   12
Hutton's Vireo                      1
Steller's Jay                       2
Western Scrub-Jay                   8
American Crow                       1
Black-capped Chickadee             40
Bushtit                             8
White-breasted Nuthatch             2
Bewick's Wren                      12
Marsh Wren                          3
Golden-crowned Kinglet              5
Ruby-crowned Kinglet               15
Western Bluebird                    8
American Robin                    110
Varied Thrush                       2
Wrentit                             2
European Starling                  60
Cedar Waxwing                      11
Yellow-rumped Warbler              20
Spotted Towhee                     30
CHIPPING SPARROW                    1
      First-winter plumage, noted gray rump, weak malar contrast,
      broad dark post-ocular stripe, streaked crown, pinkish bill
      (both mandibles).
Savannah Sparrow                   18
      Separate flocks of about 9-10 in south and north parts of
      wildlife area; those in the south end (where the Chipping and
      Swamp Sparrows were found) were noticably large, cool-toned,
      high-contrast birds compared with usual wintering subspecies
      (better represented by the flock in the north end).
Fox Sparrow                        33
      All seen were Sooty form; one was singing!
Song Sparrow                       43
Lincoln's Sparrow                  19 Good numbers, widespread.
SWAMP SPARROW                       1
      Same size as nearby Lincoln's Sparrows but gray breast with no
      distinct streaking (some dull, smeared streaks), streaked rusty
      crown, dark gray malar contrasting with whiter chin and
      submoustachial.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW              9
      All nine in same area, spread out over about a half acre of a
      brushy sump near Killdeer Corner, associating with
      Golden-crowned Sparrows and juncos.
White-crowned Sparrow               7 One was singing.
Golden-crowned Sparrow             90 Several singing.
Dark-eyed Junco                    80 (one Slate-colored)
Red-winged Blackbird                2
Purple Finch                       15
House Finch                         8
American Goldfinch                100

--
Joel Geier
jgeier at attglobal.net