[birding] Bird class trip to Finley

[Lisa Millbank]

Today was the second field trip for the Birding in the Willamette Valley ASC/CEC class.

While waiting for everyone to arrive at Avery Park, we watched dozens of WESTERN TANAGERS, WARBLING VIREOS, a variety of warblers, and other migrants.  Everywhere we looked, there were birds moving in the trees.

We carpooled to Finley, and the prairie overlook was the first stop.  The whole class got great close-up looks at LAZULI BUNTINGS and WESTERN KINGBIRDS, and there was even a brief fight between two buntings.  The WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, RING-NECKED PHEASANT, NORTHERN HARRIER and SAVANNAH SPARROWS were keeping their distance a bit.  I noticed what appeared to be a Hammond's Flycatcher, with a tiny, nearly all-black beak and a noticeably gray head, but I can't be certain.  (I think Hammond's are pretty common all over the valley during migration.  I often see them close to the ground, flycatching from hedgerows.)

At the Homer Campbell Trail we all got a great look at the rare "whiskered" WRENTIT (see photo at http://groups.google.com/group/mid-valley-nature/browse_thread/thread/8acf10c7653a3ba ).  Actually, the way he was carrying nesting material, it looked just like cat whiskers!  We watched SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, BROWN CREEPERS, DOWNY WOODPECKERS, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES, and many, many more birds in the woods.

At Cabell Marsh we saw a PURPLE MARTIN and 4 common swallow species.  Everyone admired a beautiful male TREE SWALLOW glistening in the sun.  I expected a Willow Flycatcher but didn't hear one.  The class got a first-rate view of a male AMERICAN KESTREL hovering.  This beginning birding class always reminds me to take time to appreciate common birds I don't always spend as much time looking at.  The people in the class are more interested in a cooperative Song Sparrow than they are in a drab little empid I'm chasing around.  Makes me remember the special things I love about common, everyday birds!

The Birding By Ear class starts this Wednesday.  If you're interested, contact the Corvallis Environmental Center to register, at 541-753-9211 or www.corvallisenvironmentalcenter.org. 

Lisa
www.neighborhood-naturalist.com  
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