[birding] Bluebirds on Dimple Hill

[Dave Mellinger]

I've heard Western Screech-Owls and Saw-whet Owls in the area, though not yet this year.  Specifically, if you walk in from the Oak Creek entrance to McDonald forest, the first open meadow on the right has had Screech-Owls.  And up the first road on the right (is this Road 672?), which cuts across the edge of this meadow, Saw-whet Owls have been up the past the T intersection.  But I've never seen them, only heard them.

Good stuff!

Dave
David.Mellinger at oregonstate.edu


Eleen Baumann wrote:
> Yesterday afternoon, my miniature schnauzer and I were headed up to Dimple Hill from Oak Creek.  I take a route that goes up along the edge of the the meadow. I don't follow the mountain bike trail but go further to the west, near the trees.  I saw about a dozen bluebirds flitting around in the grass and basking in the sun on a bare oak tree. I've seen that flock there at other times of the year as well.  There was a small aged wooden bird house on an oak tree.  I don't think any birds use it.
> 
> Later, as I descended on old logging road 672 back into the Oak Creek drainage, I saw on owl. That is a planted section of the forest so the trees are evenly spaced and now about 30 feet tall. The owl was flying in and out of the trees as I came along the path.  It was about 4:00 p.m. and still sunny.  It was flying away from me, so I can't really identify it.  I think it eventually landed on the ground.  Maybe it was feeding?
> 
> What a great experience.  Eleen  Baumann