The seasons keep rolling along, and with them, the birds. Sadly, just in the last few days we’ve noticed that the “whit” and song of the Swainson’s Thrush has vanished from around our home in Netarts. We miss awakening to this sure sign of summer. On the other hand, shorebirds are on the move. Yesterday we saw some 30 Least Sandpipers in Bay City. A Baird’s Sandpiper has shown up in the county, as have Wandering Tattlers. The Brown Pelicans are numerous in the bays, with their orderly flights and their amazing plunges. Our feeders have been very busy. Yesterday we had American Goldfinch, Black-headed Grosbeak, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, House Finch, Band-tailed Pigeon, Hairy Woodpecker, Red Crossbill, Steller’s Jay (including a young one still sporting a gape and brownish back and shoulders), and both Anna’s and Rufous Hummingbirds. Turkey Vultures, Great Egrets, Crows, and Bald Eagles flew overhead. Speaking of Bald Eagles- the nest that has been present and successful in the tall fir just north of the Whisky Creek shellfish hatchery for several years unexpectedly blew down sometime this early summer. Fortunately, the eaglet fledged successfully before that happened. I am curious whether the nest will be rebuilt. I certainly hope so.
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Tillamook county in June is full of bird song. This helps bird lovers find birds, especially in the early morning hours. Many birds move into the higher elevation forests to build nests. Alert listeners have recently found some rare birds, including a beautiful male Northern Parula warbler at Sitka Sedge. This species is normally seen in central and eastern USA. (Did you note what we said in the warbler posting below about being alert for rare warblers?)
Brown Pelicans are annual summer visitors that are seen flying offshore, often near Three Arch Rocks or Cape Meares. This year, however, American White Pelicans, usually seen in central and eastern Oregon, can be seen on both Netarts and Tillamook bays. Perhaps the drought in their usual habitat has them looking for new places to forage? Did you know that Bald Eagles do not always have white heads and tails? Young eagles take 4-5 years to reach mature plumage. If you see a dark eagle in Tillamook County, it is most likely a young bald eagle, not a Golden Eagle as some visitors sometimes assume. A Bald Eagle nest, with a young bird about to fledge, can be seen along Netarts Bay Rd, in the estuary just north of the shellfish factory. Shorebird fall migration starts as early as the last week of June, and shorebird numbers increase during July. Adults usually have worn feathers, while young birds look crisp and colorful. Watch for flocks of sandpipers on the ocean beaches and tidal flats in the next weeks. |
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