[birding] Song Sparrows & R-w Blackbirds at Jackson-Frazier Wetland

[Joel Geier]

Hi folks,

Just back from a Mountain View Elementary combined 4th grade field trip
to Jackson-Frazier Wetland. For 50 or 60 kids (walking around the
boardwalk in groups of 6 or 7 per adult) they were remarkably focused
and interested in the birds, plants etc. 

VIRGINIA RAILS were heard calling in several places; I think just about
every group heard one or two. Several of the kids detected MARSH WRENS
by ear and gave pretty good imitations of the sound. A few groups got
managed to see and hear the noisy PINE SISKIN flock and an
immature/female-plumaged PURPLE FINCH that was singing near the start of
the trail. A pair of MALLARDS were also seen sneaking around.
Chickadees, robins, towhees, and other birds were also seen.

However, the bird that provoked the most oohs-and-ahs was a territorial
SONG SPARROW singing atop cattails, long enough for scope views by a
couple of dozen kids who very patiently lined up for turns viewing the
bird. The RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS (several displaying males and one
female) also got to be the star attraction for dozens of kids.

Happy birding,
Joel

P.S. I detoured along Coffin Butte Rd. on the way home around 11:15 AM,
and quickly spotted the GLAUCOUS GULL hanging out with 70-80 assorted
gulls on their "resting field" about 1/4 mile east of the landfill
headquarters. Seems like the flock is sticking to their regular schedule
for visiting this field.

--
Joel Geier
Camp Adair area north of Corvallis