[birding] Virginia Rail, Northern Harrier & TV at Jackson-Frazier

[Don Boucher]

Jackson-Frazier Wetland

About 15 people enjoyed a sunny, cool morning. Upon the arrival at the parking area, we heard Red-winged Blackbirds, Song Sparrows and a Dark-eyed Junco singing. Soon thereafter we spotted an Anna's Hummingbird which sang briefly. The brush and trees nearby had plenty of other common birds to hear and see; Spotted Towhee, Black-capped Chickadee, Yellow-rumped Warbler, House Finch, American Robin, Bewick's Wren, Western Scrub-Jay and others. This spot is reliable for Purple Finches close to town and we heard and saw several.

The whole place is well inundated with water visible in the spaces between boards of the boardwalk. In the marshy, open areas we heard a Virginia Rail, saw some mallards and watched a Marsh Wren sing. A male Northern Harrier was patrolling the area and occasionally soaring high. A couple of Brush Rabbits hopped away through the flooded brushy areas, sometimes clambering over sticks and plants to avoid swimming. There has been a lot of beaver activity at the north end of the boardwalk. Some rather large trees have been felled. One fallen ash tree, about a foot and a half in diameter, is visible from one of the boardwalk extensions.

Many of us saw our first Turkey Vulture of the season as one soared northward over HWY 99W. Near the end of the our walk on the board walk loop, we got fabulous looks at a male Anna's Hummingbird. He briefly did his display with the characteristic "ssschink!" sound that Anna's make with their tail feathers at the bottom of their dive.

Future naturalist adventures:
3rd Sunday of each month, 9am-Noon
All trips meet at Avery Park Rose Garden: 1210 SW Avery Dr., Corvallis.

March 21: Destination TBD
April 18: Destination TBD
May 16: Destination TBD
June 20: Destination TBD
July 18: Destination TBD

Don Boucher
Corvallis, OR
www.Neighborhood-Naturalist.com
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