[birding] FOR ARCHIVES: (last one!) Starker & Sunset Parks 17 Feb 2010

[Joel Geier]

Subject: [Fwd: Starker & Sunset Parks]
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:31:53 -0800

[Note: Lisa has some photo attachments to go with this, so just ask one
of us if you'd like to receive those -- joel]

-------- Forwarded Message --------
From: Lisa Millbank <lisaaves at peak.org>
To: joel.geier at peak.org, Mid-valley Nature
<mid-valley-nature at googlegroups.com>
Subject: Starker & Sunset Parks
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:49:32 -0800

I went to Sunset & Starker Parks today.  It was too nice of a day to
stay inside and do the things I ought to be doing, like laundry.
 
Western Scrub-Jays Peanut Queen and her mate Mr. Shy (we finally gave
him a nickname) were very excited to get their peanuts at the community
garden.  However, the resident American Crow family chased two
Red-shouldered Hawks over toward the garden.  Peanut
Queen was really startled as the hawks passed over us, and she gave a
shout and dove into a sequoia.  A Spotted Towhee has recently
learned how tasty peanuts are, so he popped out, grabbed a whole,
in-shell peanut, and flew away with his prize into the dogwood shrubs.
A few White-throated Sparrows joined the Golden-crowned, Song, and House
Sparrows.  I was surprised that I didn't see any White-crowns.  A bunny
(Eastern Cottontail) dozed in the sunshine.  The cuteness level was
getting hazardous!  
 
There were a few honeybees emerging from the beehives.  I thought that
they might be collecting resin from the nearby cottonwood tree for
propolis.  Also, a pair of Red-tailed Hawks were soaring together, and
the male occasionally dangled his legs.  I thought they were just
beginning their courtship.
 
At the duck pond, the female Hooded Merganser was busy diving.  When
someone comes to feed the ducks, she paddles over with everyone else,
looks around, and probably wonders what those other ducks are doing when
they eat bread, instead of fish!  Mr. Chinese Goose honked, with a
gawky entourage of Indian Runner ducks following him, American Wigeons
and Mallards were frolicking in the sunshine, and I enjoyed the friendly
and charming Mallard x domestic hybrids.  It looked like some of the
male Mallards were chasing females in half-hearted attempts to mate.
 
The beaver pond area of Sunset Park had lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers
and a few were singing, just a little.  There were quite a few Pine
Siskins, Lesser and American Goldfinches.  Two male Anna's Hummingbirds
were singing their odd little squeaky song.  A Ruby-crowned Kinglet gave
a fragment of song, and it won't be too long before those little guys
really start up singing!  Some pussywillows were actually shedding
pollen already, forming a yellow film on the water, and Tall
Oregon-Grape had a few buds just about to open.
 
Lisa
www.neighborhood-naturalist.com