Early July is a great time to bird in these areas, the woods are full of birds. With all the recently fledged birds, I would say it is the busiest time of the year.
This clearing was right before you cross Tygh Creek on the trail. I estimated over 50 birds were in the surrounding trees. It was birding madness trying to track them all. Dark-eyed Juncos, Pine Siskins, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Cassin's FInch. MacGillivray's Warbler and Yellow-rumped Warbler were the main varieties.
There was a young MacGillivray's hanging out in the brush. I could not get a photo, so I settled on what I thought was mom, no black lores.
Young Dark-eyed Juncos were the most common hatch-year (HY) birds I saw.
All along the trail adult juncos let me know I was an intruder. Lots of noisy complaints were filed.
Hatch-year Chipping Sparrow.
Thankfully there are volunteers that go out into these wilderness areas and clear the trails.
A good portion of the trail passes through old blow-down. With all the flowers out, it is really very beautiful. I saw 9 Rufous Hummingbirds, most were in habitat like this.
A family of House Wrens were making a huge racket in this clearing. Juveniles are supposed to not have strong barring on flanks, I figured this one was the best bet for a juvenile.
Another MacGillivray's was a nice treat.
Lots of young Yellow-rumps were in the trees, note heavily streaked below.
This one was also heavily streaked below, but had a yellow throat, so I went with hatch-year male.
Juvenile Western Tanagers have streaks to the underparts, so I do not think this is a hatch-year bird. I did see a few juveniles. But they were very secretive.
Not a hatch-year tanager. Hatch-year birds have no red. A classic image from the western mountains.
Down at the crossing of Tygh Creek a juvenile Pacific Wren was in the dark brush.
Juvenile Townsend's Solitaires should still have scaly underparts, so this is not a hatch-year bird.
Groups of Evening Grosbeak were up in the dark tree tops. I could not tell if this was a juvenile or not. It seemed to be following an adult around.
Lots of birding activity, it took me almost seven hours to bird seven miles. I would urge folks to try this very nice birding area, or just get out in your local woods and enjoy all the youngsters!
Turkey Vulture 5
Rufous Hummingbird 9
Williamson's Sapsucker 1
Western Wood-Pewee 5
Hammond's Flycatcher 3
Dusky Flycatcher 7
Cassin's Vireo 1
Warbling Vireo 2
Mountain Chickadee 2
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 9
Red-breasted Nuthatch 13
Brown Creeper 9
House Wren 11
Pacific Wren 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 17
Townsend's Solitaire 1
Hermit Thrush 7
MacGillivray's Warbler 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler 23
Hermit Warbler 2
Chipping Sparrow 26
Dark-eyed Junco 43
Western Tanager 15
Cassin's Finch 13
Red Crossbill 3
Pine Siskin 32
Evening Grosbeak 9
After a long, exciting hike, Huck was eager to get in the car and rest. Once he senses he is getting near the car, he races ahead and waits.
Rufous Hummingbird 9
Williamson's Sapsucker 1
Western Wood-Pewee 5
Hammond's Flycatcher 3
Dusky Flycatcher 7
Cassin's Vireo 1
Warbling Vireo 2
Mountain Chickadee 2
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 9
Red-breasted Nuthatch 13
Brown Creeper 9
House Wren 11
Pacific Wren 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 17
Townsend's Solitaire 1
Hermit Thrush 7
MacGillivray's Warbler 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler 23
Hermit Warbler 2
Chipping Sparrow 26
Dark-eyed Junco 43
Western Tanager 15
Cassin's Finch 13
Red Crossbill 3
Pine Siskin 32
Evening Grosbeak 9
After a long, exciting hike, Huck was eager to get in the car and rest. Once he senses he is getting near the car, he races ahead and waits.
Thanks for the visit.
I will clearly defer to you for all future help ID'ing juveniles; great to see so much variety in ages and see the distinctive differences. Map is appreciated, I will have to hit this trail to see for myself.
ReplyDeleteI will clearly defer to you for all future help ID'ing juveniles; great to see so much variety in ages and see the distinctive differences. Map is appreciated, I will have to hit this trail to see for myself.
ReplyDelete