[birding] White-throated Sparrow flock wintering again at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area

[Joel Geier]

Hi folks,

In order to walk off a few extra holiday calories this morning, I
checked out the north part of E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area (n. Benton
County). I found a flock of at least six WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS near
the northeast corner of the wildlife area, in the same soggy woodland
that has hosted flocks in past winters. Six is the number that I managed
to see simultaneously, in a single view with the binoculars; there could
have been a few more in the area. They were flocking with about a dozen
Golden-crowned Sparrows. 

I also heard a single White-throated Sparrow in the south part of the
wildlife area. Counting a few others that I've seen in other sparrow
patches in recent weeks, there are at least 10 White-throated Sparrows
on or right around the wildlife area this winter.

I checked the areas where a Sedge Wren and a Swamp Sparrow were reported
earlier in the winter, but couldn't find either, nor an American Tree
Sparrow.

AMERICAN ROBINS (over 650), VARIED THRUSHES (30 or 40), and YELLOW-
RUMPED WARBLERS (80+) were conspicuous throughout the wildlife area.
Many of the robins were feeding on (multiflora?) rose hips, though
flocks were also swarming apple trees with rotting fruit.

E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area is about 10 miles north of Corvallis on the
east side of Hwy 99W. A few hunters are still using the wildlife area so
bright orange clothing is advised. According to the Corvallis newspaper
someone got shot in the rump with a shotgun a few days ago (sounds like
your basic hunting accident, though details of the incident have not
been released).

Happy birding,
Joel

--
Joel Geier
Camp Adair area north of Corvallis