[birding] Willamette Park birdsong symphony

[Don Boucher]

Hello,

Lisa and I led the "third Sunday" Naturalist Adventure at Willamette Park from the north end (Kendall Natural Area). It took us some time to leave the parking area. There were many little birds to watch in the nearby cottonwoods and maples like WILSON'S WARBLER & WARBLING VIREO.We got a good look at SWAINSON'S THRUSH foraging higher in a tree than we would normally expect. From the Evanite boat ramp we looked for birds along the gravel bar. A COMMON MERGANSER was managing about 10 or more fluffy little ducklings. There were a couple of SPOTTED SANDPIPERS calling and flying. We got a good look at the size difference between the female (larger) and the male. In the riparian forest we listened to the songs of BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, YELLOW WARBLERS, a WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE and more. The bird sounds were thick and it was hard to pay attention to any one thing. We watched a BUSHTIT pair feed their babies. A male robin fed and then brooded his babies while a little pink head emerged from under his wing.

After the field trip Lisa and I went over to the sound part of Willamette Park to the disc golf area to look at the Broadleaf Bluebells. They are still blooming but not for much longer.

Stay tuned for more outings. Bicycle Birding on May 30 and a Naturalist Adventure on June 20:
http://www.neighborhood-naturalist.com/neighborhood-naturalist_events.htm

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