[birding] Fitton Green -- Vesper Sparrows

[Lisa Millbank]

The Neighborhood Naturalist field trip went to Fitton Green today.  There were only 4 of us, so maybe the dreary morning or other activities kept some people away.  But, it didn't rain and it was quite nice up there.

On the way up we enjoyed watching several deer; a doe with two yearlings and a couple of other does.

We started at the Alan Throop trail.  Just past the gate, we watched several HERMIT WARBLERS singing from the tops of Douglas-firs and some lovely Grand Firs as well.  SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, WILSON'S WARBLERS, and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS were singing along with PURPLE FINCHES.  Cute fledgling DARK-EYED JUNCOS were begging and being fed by their harried parents.  At the intersection, we took the left road and climbed into the oak savanna.  Not surprisingly, there were loads of LAZULI BUNTINGS there, along with CHIPPING SPARROWS.  I started hearing a less-familiar song and sure enough, on the top of an oak right by the road there was a VESPER SPARROW singing.  We saw at least one other male who was singing.  I know Rich had wanted to know of a good Vesper Sparrow site.  They were very easy to detect by song here.  

A Chipping Sparrow was hopping around on the road, and I thought he might be eating gravel for his gizzard.  What we eventually decided was a "gray phase" or "pale" female WESTERN TANAGER flew down and appeared to be collecting gravel too.  She was very drab with a few olive-yellow highlights.  She was quite short-tempered with the Chipping Sparrow nearby and kept chasing him off.  We also heard some Osprey-like chirps of RED-TAILED HAWKS up near the fancy house on the hilltop, and many BAND-TAILED PIGEONS flying over.

It was too cool for lizards or butterflies, but certainly worth a visit on a warm day in the near future.  Plants included Menzie's Larkspur, Barestem Lomatium, Summer's Darling (Clarkia amoena), Mule's-Ears, Oregon Sunshine (Common Woolly Sunflower), Yarrow, Rose Checkermallow, Forktooth Ookow, and Fool's Onion (Triteleia hyacinthina).  In the forest there were Tough-leaf Iris, Red Columbine, and on our way back in the car we saw several Tall Bugbane plants blooming along the roadside.

For pictures including a Vesper Sparrow: http://groups.google.com/group/mid-valley-nature/browse_thread/thread/907d0acb7f84072b

Lisa
www.neighborhood-naturalist.com

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