[birding] E.E. Wilson today

[Joel Geier]

Hello folks,

Quite a few birders were out enjoying the nice weather at E.E. Wilson
Wildlife Area this morning. At headquarters Karl Fairchild, Holly
Reinhard, David Schas, and Pam (?) had good views of the YELLOW-BELLIED
SAPSUCKER on both sides of the road, just before I wandered through
(10:00 AM or so) and saw the bird zipping southward over the blue house.

A few people had looked for the Clay-colored and Chipping Sparrows
reported by Russ Namitz, but no one had managed to see them by that
time. The usual good variety of other sparrow species were around
(Savannah, Song, Lincoln's, Sooty Fox, Golden-crowned and White-throated
at least; a few White-crowned have been around too). 

Doug Robinson also wandered by and mentioned that he'd heard the two
SWAMP SPARROWS in the previously reported spot along the north side of
the Canal. Throw in Spotted Towhees and Dark-eyed Juncos, and that makes
12 emberizid sparrow species that seem to be around in the wildlife area
right now.

I didn't see the NORTHERN SHRIKE in the south end today, but another one
was in the north end of the wildlife area. The one in the north end is a
rather dingy bird, sort of like the "gray 1st winter" bird shown by
Sibley, while the one in the south end is a more clean-looking adult.
Both birds have been around since December.

GREAT EGRETS have been scarce since the December cold snap, but one was
on the east side of the wildlife area where a few AMERICAN PIPITS were
flying over the grass fields.

Other interesting birds around the neighborhood included a flock of 20
TUNDRA SWANS flying over with two CANADA GEESE drafting on their tail,
and at least 3 GREATER SCAUP (2 females, 1 male) in with about 25 Lesser
Scaup and 30 American Wigeons on the Adair Village sewage treatment
pond.

Happy birding,
Joel

--
Joel Geier
Camp Adair area north of Corvallis