Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture, Osprey

Kettle of 30 raptors - Bald Eagles, Turkey Vultures or Osprey were soaring and circling above Ordway and then flew West 4PM.

Thurston County Rate of Urbanization and Forest Harvest c. 2002 vs. Rate of Urbanization and Prairie Oaks 2010 Yelm

Link to Google Doc, "Rate of Urbanization and Forest Harvest in Thurston County 1985-2001 (final report Jan. 2002)"

Yelm Loop Stage II Plan


Critical Areas Map - This map upon loading will indicate the large gray area that is labeled YELM. Under the gray area are locations of Prairie Oaks which are obscured on this map from the Thurston County Planning Office. They've been sent an email and this is the Thurston County response:

"... the choice to make cities opaque is very deliberate. Thurston County has no jurisdiction over anything inside city limits, so to avoid misleading citizens we do not show information for the cities in any county maps..."

The Thurston County Critical Areas map used this reference for Oak Prairies

OAK-DOMINANT FOREST OR WOODLAND CANOPY
Description: Greater than 25% crown cover of Oregon white oaks in the main and upper canopy layers and <25%>50% relative cover of natives) and located on glacial outwash, rock outcrop or coastal bluff landforms; verified in the field. Minimum map unit approximately 5 acres for prairies on glacial outwash landforms, 1 acre for balds on rock outcrop landforms or grasslands on coastal bluff landforms. May be smaller if contiguous with other grassland cover types.

SEMI-NATIVE GRASSLAND

Description: Herbaceous vegetation (<25%>


I do not see where it has been determined that the economic impact of this loop would be beneficial vs. ??? (we are in a recession currently and this project is unfunded and seemingly ?)

See also "TRPC 510 Yelm Loop

Yelm Community Blog

Determination of non-significance - "As this is a non-project action, environmental impacts to specific sites will be evaluated at the time the improvement is initiated." (*notes Garry Oaks *no note of impact to prairie *no note of impact to surrounding communities outside of the Urban Growth Area.) See Plants 4.c. & Animals 5. b.

New Pride of the Prairie Opens - no photos of landscaped area.


The mapping provided for Critical Areas that included Oak Prairies in
Thurston County is insufficient. The area identified as YELM obscures
the data the map intended to represent and display. It is a simple
map symbol choice error that can be fixed through choosing a map
symbol for the area of YELM that is not opaque and would allow for the
yellow/green areas of Oak Prairie to be properly identified as the WA
DNR map intended. I requested this yesterday via email to the
Thurston county GIS and planning as well as sending the request to the
WA DNR. (This was intentional per Thurston County mapping see above answer.)
This does not solve the Yelm Loop Stage II issue, however,
that will pass through areas of oaks in Yelm's Urban Growth Area. One
would think, considering that Yelm's motto "Pride of the Prairie" that
they would properly identify Oaks and Prairies within Yelm and its
Urban Growth Area.

* if you are quick.....
you can hit print screen to identify (only briefly) the areas obscured
under the gray area of YELM as the pdf loads. The green and yellow
areas will load first before being oscured by YELM. :)

(1) http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/planning/critical_areas/maps-2010/Prairies.pdf

The Biological Assessment for the Yelm Loop Stage II project was
indicated by the WADOT as complete in December 2007.
I cannot find it online either through City of Yelm, or WADOT website.
It would be an interesting read if found.

This document from City of Yelm indicates that the Draft BA was
completed by WADOT in May 2007.City of Yelm indicated that Garry Oaks
were present in their Environmental Checklist for the Updated
Transportation Plan URL (2) Item 4.c List threatened and endangered
species known to be on or near the site - Garry Oaks. City of Yelm
recognized the Garry Oak as threatened or endangered, but leaves it
obscured in their mapping of Updated Transportation Plans. Oh well,
maybe its just a mapping error.......

(2) https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B5dWTSbMv7AYY2VkZjQ4MTEtZWI2ZS00ZjY0LWIwYzYtNWU4NmJjZWY4NGEy&hl=en


I have not noticed anything on the WADOT website with regards to
Biological Assessment content or BA references that include
information about Garry Oaks. And could not find the Yelm Loop Stage
II BA or Draft BA at WADOT.

(3) http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Environment/Biology/BA/BAcontent.htm#ProjectInfo


I wanted to know if the WADNR mapping included information from the
database below.

University of Washington Herbarium

Search Results
Exported from http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/collections/vascular/search.php
May 8th, 2009 at 8:34am PST
Your search query was: Genus = Quercus, Species = garryana
93 records.

Was this information from the herbarium used in the map?

"The historical specimen data from the Burke Museum was not used in the creation of the oak-prairie maps..." WA DNR

One of 93 records included an oak in Yelm and was cited in the year
1891. Is it dead or alive? UNKNOWN

When will the Oak Prairie map be updated?

"We will up-date the oak layer as funding and time allows." WA DNR

City of Yelm does not utilize Thurston County Critical Areas Oaks and Prairie's map originating from WA STATE DNR. City of Yelm informed me that they build customized maps based on city needs.

The City of Yelm does not produce or utilize the critical areas maps you reference, which are produced by Thurston County. I can only speculate that the reason they do not clearly show protected oak stands within the City limits or urban growth area is because the purpose of these maps is to show such areas within the County. The City maintains its own GIS system that we utilize to review development applications and to help in long range planning activities. The City does not publish separate critical area maps, but rather produces custom maps as required for such activities. The data the City utilizes is the best available from Thurston County and Washington State.

Pending Question:
What mapping information is being used by your GIS Dept. to identify
Critical Areas of Oak Prairie's in the City of Yelm and its Urban
Growth areas?

See also: Pending question ignored

Varied Thrush and Robins

Varied Thrush shared the backyard with a Robin yesterday evening. In the last week I have noticed more Gulls flying Northwest. The Juncos and Chickadees are enjoying the ground seed.

Christmas Bird Count December 14 - January 5, 2011

The 111th annual CBC is coming up. You can read more about it here.



I noticed that there were a few oaks planted in the Yelm roundabout, but no one posted a photo of the final landscaping. I suppose they are waiting for spring when the oaks are in bloom.

Oaks and Prairies in Thurston County

Western Scrub Jays not a simple bird

I have been attempting to read a paper on Mast producing trees and
geographical ecology of Western Scrub Jays. The technical analysis is
quite frustrating to interpret given the amount of reference to
numerical analysis of which I am so unfamiliar! In general, it was
said that acorn production benefitted scrub jay population by
increasing reproductive success.

Does this also mean in a year that provides for poor acorn production
that the population of Western Scrub Jay may decline in the year that
follows?


https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B5dWTSbMv7AYY2MyMjAyMDMtOGM5Ny00NTg1LWE1MjAtMWM0MWVkZDVkYWE0&hl=en


Another title by Mary K. Coldren (ca. 1997)
http://txtbba.tamu.edu/accounts/scja/scjaacc.html puzzled me in that
it appeared to be questionable if Western Scrub Jays had the habit of
assisting with feeding at the nest. No one knows this? That seemed
odd to me especially since the mapping of the Western Scrub Jay
appears south in Mexico to the North in Western Washington.
Evidently, Western Scrub Jay species differ given recent genetic
findings (2003?). (Surprise to me again, there...) It was said that
the only species known to help at the nest were the Mexican species,
A. c. sumichrasti.

Now I have to find pictures of a Mexican Western scrub jay - A. c.
sumichrasti - and find pics of the other variety of sub-species of
Western Scrub jay. I don't think my Peterson's makes the difference on
p. 284, c. 2008.

The wiki was helpful.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Scrub_Jay ___and this
description___ http://www.avianweb.com/westernscrubjays.html __of
differences in sub-species was good reading.

Genetics is so confusing!

"Judging from mtDNA NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 sequence data, it
appears there are two clades, namely a Pacific one west and one east
of the Rocky Mountains; the relationships of populations in the latter
are not resolvable to satisfaction. Thus, it is fairly likely the
Western Scrub-Jay is actually another two distinct species, one
belonging to the Pacific and another one to the eastern lineage(s);
the latter's ancestors apparently gave rise to the Florida Scrub-Jay
as well. Paleogeography of the Rocky Mountains range supports this
scenario.

Inland birds (Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, woodhouseii group and
Sumichrast's Scrub-Jay, sumichrasti group) differ in plumage (paler
blue above, with an indistinct and usually incomplete breast band)
from the coastal birds (California Scrub-Jay, californica group) which
are darker blue above with a strongly defined - but not necessarily
complete - blue breast band. The three groups also differ in ecology
and behavior. The beaks of the California and Sumichrast's groups are
strong and hooked at the tip, as they feed on acorns, whereas the
pinyon-nut feeding Woodhouse's group has a longer, slimmer and
straighter bill with little or no hook.

Each group contains a number of subspecies..."
--http://www.avianweb.com/westernscrubjays.html

It is so much fun to learn something new.

(Notes: "Helping at the nest has been well documented for a closely related species, the Florida Scrub-Jay (A. coerulescens). However, among Western Scrub-Jays, this behavior has only been documented for a population in southern Mexico (A. c. sumichrasti) (Peterson & Burt 1992)."

"Pitelka (1951) and Oberholser (1974) classified the earlier nonbreeding wanderers found in the Panhandle as A. c. woodhouseii, which breed as close as northeast New Mexico and southeast Colorado. However, vocal analysis suggests that the Scrub-Jays that breed in the Panhandle may be more closely allied with A. c. texana of the Edwards Plateau (Coldren 1996). One possible explanation is that birds from the Edwards Plateau traveled north along the Caprock Escarpment to become the breeding year-round residents, while young birds from New Mexico and Colorado sporadically wander altitudinally to become the winter birds reported by Pitelka (1951), Oberholser (1974), and various checklists. Until more research is done, this question remains unanswered."

Text by Mary K. Coldren (ca. 1997)
http://txtbba.tamu.edu/accounts/scja/scjaacc.html November 10, 2010 Accessed, Western Scrub-Jay
* Peterson, A. T. and D. B. Burt. 1992. Pylogenetic history of social evolution and habitat use in the Aphelocoma jays. Anim. Behav. 44:859-866.



"Judging from mtDNA NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 sequence data, it appears there are two clades, namely a Pacific one west and one east of the Rocky Mountains; the relationships of populations in the latter are not resolvable to satisfaction. Thus, it is fairly likely the Western Scrub-Jay is actually another two distinct species, one belonging to the Pacific and another one to the eastern lineage(s); the latter's ancestors apparently gave rise to the Florida Scrub-Jay as well. Paleogeography of the Rocky Mountains range supports this scenario."

"Inland birds (Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, woodhouseii group and Sumichrast's Scrub-Jay, sumichrasti group) differ in plumage (paler blue above, with an indistinct and usually incomplete breast band) from the coastal birds (California Scrub-Jay, californica group) which are darker blue above with a strongly defined - but not necessarily complete - blue breast band. The three groups also differ in ecology and behavior. The beaks of the California and Sumichrast's groups are strong and hooked at the tip, as they feed on acorns, whereas the pinyon-nut feeding Woodhouse's group has a longer, slimmer and straighter bill with little or no hook.

Each group contains a number of subspecies. "Sumichrast's Scrub-Jay" stands apart from the others in its altruistic breeding behavior, unlike the others) stand apart; its remaining races are generally not quite as pale but have washed-out colors with indistincly marked borders. Certainly, some gene flow among these populations occurs, but while the hybrid zone between the californica and woodhouseii groups is very limited." --http://www.avianweb.com/westernscrubjays.html Accessed November 10, 2010. 

"Birds along the Pacific Coast are sharply marked, with a bold blue necklace against white underparts and a distinct brown back. Great Basin birds (called "Woodhouse’s" scrub-jay and sometimes considered to be a different species) are grayer overall, the necklace is less contrasting, and the back patch is grayish blue." --http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Scrub-Jay/id

Hooked bill study in Pac NW includes a flyer from USGS from Andrew C. Revkin November 9, 2010.
More Crow beak deformities Pacific Northwest and Alaskan beak deformities
How USGS can determine that there is an issue with Crow beaks is my question as various authors have indicated that there are slight curves in crow beaks anyway.  I suppose they may be attributing this to other species current issues. However, "On the basis of 186 Northwestern Crows captured at six sites in
Alaska during 2007 and 2008, we estimated the prevalence of beak deformities in adults to be 16.9 ± 5.3%, the highest rate of gross deformities ever recorded in a wild bird population." - October 2010, The Auk 127(4):882−898, 2010.

Yearly totals in Washington from Matt Bartels:

At this point last year, Acorn Woodpecker had been reported only in Klickitat 
County. This year it has been reported in 9 counties [10 if you include this 
week's report from Pacific Co.] 


As for Lewis's Woodpecker & Western Scrub-Jays -- the county level year list 
perspective doesn't seem to reveal anything unusual -- only one more county 
reporting each compared with last year (with a couple more counties like to be 
added in the final update at the end of the year). 

Western Scrub Jays, Lewis and Acorn Woodpecker and acorn crops

Updated: Acorn Crop Survey Contacts

Recent Tweet about Western Scrub Jay and Acorn crop proves interesting along with Tweet from October 5th, 2010 Vol. 74 Issue 5 Tweet and this one and this one.

"I would strongly encourage anyone seeing Western Scrub-Jays IN AREAS WHERE THEY ARE NOT USUALLY FOUND to report them.."

and

"...although it would explain the invasion of Western Scrub-Jays into areas north of King County, I still believe it has little or nothing to do with this year's Lewis's Woodpecker reports in western WA, as that species breeds almost entirely in areas which don't have any native oaks."

and

"It is much less common (appearance of Western Scrub Jay) in Thurston and Pierce Counties."

Prairie Oak List has indicated that this year was the worst since 1999 for acorn crops in Canada, Washington and Oregon.

It is quite interesting that there *is* OR *is NOT* a relationship between acorn crops and bird residency/migration/breeding habits. An Ecologist with the USDA Forest Service who has been monitoring Acorn crops in Canada, Washington and Oregon has indicated on the Prairie Oak list that:

"I have been conducting an annual acorn survey for Oregon white oak from British Columbia to southern Oregon since 1999. This is the worst production year in the history of the survey almost everywhere."

I wonder further about the relationship between birds and acorns and find it all quite interesting.

(note to self upon a recollection: I will have to search further for a study conducted recently about the distribution of acorns by Jays possibly written by someone in Canada.)

Canal Road Oaks

I began searching for acorns a bit late this year. Canal Rd. last year around August produced a few acorns. This year, with the addition of two homes near the oak stand, I found that the landscaper or housing developer tossed additional dead sod into the understory of the oak stand. Garbage or compost? I suppose the difference would be the fact that compost usually is cured and spread evenly. This was a clump of unused dead sod carelessly tossed into the oak stand understory at the end of the new home on the 8600 block of Canal Rd. Here is the Facebook page. I hope it gets cleaned up.

Anyway, I didn't find ANY acorns this late in the season and I really wonder about this years acorn crop production.

Also this link from the Prairie Oak list:
http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/domestic/western_bluebird.html

Fort Lewis has been assisting in the repopulation and relocation, if you will, of Western Blue Birds on San Juan Island. The project has entered into a contest http://www.zooboise.org/zbcfprojects.aspx

More on Blue Bird Projects in the South Puget Sound

Acorn crops and increased Lewis/Acorn woodpecker sightings

TWEET mailing list
A few people are discussing the possible reasons for a spike or dispersal patterns in Lewis/Acorn woodpecker sightings in Western Washington. One theory includes the shortage of acorns this fall. I admit that there were fewer wild rose blooms and rose hips this year than last year. I have not assessed local acorn production in comparison to years previous but hope to in the coming weeks.

Lewis/Acorn woodpecker numbers

Hummingbirds in Fall

A hummingbird flew through my yard today and stopped in to feed NEAR the hummingbird feeder. He actually hovered over the red plastic covered dog run wire thinking that this was food. Earlier this summer I watched a hummingbird hover at a large spider web and dart into the center of the web to peck at the spider. This hummer appeared to have a yellowish breast and sat inside a liliac bush, then darted off into the fenceline brush. Next year I hope to have red hot poker planted near the fenceline to attract more hummingbirds.

European starlings

A flock of European starlings flew into an evergreen near the railroad. At least the number of starlings in the smallish evergreen did not disturb the tree enough to bend its branches. I have noticed more European starling flocks in the past few weeks.

Violet Green Swallow Nest and Eggs

The Violet Green Swallow and three eggs in a new nest built on top of the Chestnut Backed Chickadee nest. Long dried grasses from my freshly cut lawn were taken into the swallow house one piece at a time. The Chestnut Backed Chickadee nest is on the bottom and is composed of moss and smaller grasses.

Chestnut Backed Chickadee

I have seen the evicted Chestnut Backed Chickadee a few times since the Violet Green Swallows took over their nest and young. The chickadee has flown in near his former nesting site, fed at the feeder and quickly flew away. I am not certain what happened to the baby chickadees. This article cites Chestnut Backed Chickadee nests have been raided or predated by squirrels, House Sparrows, House Wrens, and Bewick's Wrens (observed). The nest box itself was built to exclude predators of Violet Green Swallows NOT predators of Chestnut Backed Chickadees. I suppose then that Violet Green Swallows are higher on the food chain than Chickadees. Smaller chickadee nests have the least chance of survival. I heard only 3 or 4 young in the Chickadee nest.

This site seems to have a little information on predators.

"# Chickadee: pretty much everybody kicks them out, including bumblebees, although occasionally they win against bluebirds. Mountain Chickadees may lose out to House Wrens and Violet-green Swallows. Eastern bluebirds have been known to remove chickadee nestlings from a box. (BNA). Other birds will lay their own eggs on top of or alongside chickadee eggs (see photo above.) Note: A 1 1/8" hole restrictor can be placed on a box that has at least one chickadee egg in it to protect their nest from being overtaken by larger competitors. If their nest is taken over, try moving it to a paired box (5-20 feet away) with the entrance hole facing the opposite direction (but away from prevailing winds.) Will not returned to a failed nest site to try again."

There is also a page on Violet Green Swallows.

One day the chickadees were feeding their young and the next day a couple of Violet Green Swallows were flying in nesting material. Did not see the chickadees leaving the nest nor did I see the Violet Green Swallows removing the old chickadee nest.

Oaks and birds

This oak is on county property and is now in bloom. The photo was taken last month.
There are six or seven small sized oaks in this area surrounded by tall grass and mostly conifers.

I have attempted to re-check the area where I thought the Mountain Bluebird(s) were living, near an oak stand, and have not been able to see them lately. These birds may very well be mis-identified.

I had an unusual visit to the feeders last month. I haven't been able to identify. It's back was black with white, breast color was orange with white.

A Chestnut Backed Chickadee has taken up residence and begun a family in my swallow bird house. They are quite actively feeding their young and flying back and forth from the nest. I can hear two or three little babies chirping loudly when they are fed.

At the canal there are many swallows including Violet Green. I love to watch the swallows swarm and flit just above the water. Here I added another unidentified bird to my list. I now have two un-id'd for the year. This bird had an white circular collar around his neck on an orange breast with brown back. This doesn't include the 2 hawks/merlins/nightjars that were seen flying around the canal. The swallows avoided these two birds after they flew above the canal and the whole group of swallows swarmed to the opposite side. The usual tricolored black bird and his mate are living near the canal. They are loud, but pleasant to hear.

I have added two more bird feeders to the yard and have noticed that the brambles are overcoming the bath now. I think that I'll leave the bath covered.

Northern Flicker
American Crow
European Starling
Stellar Jay
Chestnut Backed Chickadee
Downy Woodpecker
?
Spotted Towhee
Common Yellowthroat
White Crowned Sparrow
Violet Green Swallow
Barn Swallow
??Hawk
?Doves
?Pigeon
2 Bald Eagle on American Lake

Mountain Bluebirds

Took a drive down Canal Rd and saw the resident Mountain Bluebird near
the oak stand. And I was surprised to see another Mountain Bluebird
1/4 mile past the oaks. There is alot of new construction going up on
Canal, very near this oak stand. I was happy to see two Mountain
Bluebirds though both male. I have yet to see a female Mountain
Bluebird. I know that there must be at least one female nearby.

Watched a Red Winged Blackbird that lives near the canal bridge on
Wilkenson along with a Raven and several swallows flying over the
canal. It is a wonder that these swallows can fly just above the
water. One swallow had a rusty brown back and two very long pin shaped
tail feathers ... so I suspect it may be a Barn Swallow.

Two Oregon Juncos appeared today at the leftover millet feeders. I
have had no visits since the Pine Siskins have emptied most all of the
millet feed in less than two days. It seems that the Pine Siskins do
not like to feed at a less than FULL feeder......I may have an idea
here and just not fill the feeders completely in order to see my
Chickadees and Juncos again. I have not seen the two pair of Pine
Siskins in about two days now. The Chickadees happily peck at the
millet that still remains at the feeder.

In the past week I have had a visit from a European Starling. He will
light on the suet to feed briefly. He has since moved on. European
Starlings are not frequent visitors to my yard.

I watched the Merlin fly over at about 5PM the other night. A local
Chickadee sent out a sharp set of alerts just before he flew into my
line of vision and then North. He was a very very light grey, Merlin.
Likely the same Merlin that I have seen here in and around my yard
before that most have attempted to convince me was a hawk. (I have
seen both here.) It is so neat to hear everything around you in the
yard go so silent and then....wait....and look around after the alert
call. I get a surprise nearly everytime!

Another dog hair nest and a moaning clicking Crow

While gardening this morning before noon I watched a Rufous
hummingbird buzz in twice for a quick drink at my window feeder.

2 European Starlings* (normally do not frequent my yard)
2 Crow (one Crow was making a moaning sound with a "click" in between
moans) perched in a tree.

I have two visiting Crows that in-frequently fly into and feed in my
yard. Usually, when I am spotted, they fly away. One Crow doesn't
mind that I am near, however, and perches in a tree to watch me ...
watch him. This Crow makes a strange sound, a clicking noise and
moans, unlike the other Crows that "caw". During the moan, he will
raise his head and then lower it. I watched him as he was fished
around in the yard debris for nesting material and flew off with a
beak full of Australian Shepard hair. (Maybe he swallowed it! Do Crows
get hair balls, too? It sounded like something was wrong.) Pine
Siskins are NOT the only birds to like dog hair for nesting material,
evidently. Still learning....

4 Pine Siskins
3 Oregon Juncos
1 Robin
2 Stellar Jay
4 Swallow* (straight ended tail feathers - not notched)


The majority of the Junco's seem to have moved on.....?

[*First yard appearance in 2010.]

Yardbird appetites

A Towhee that hides along the brushline and hops in and out of leaf clutter was seen bathing last week in my birdbath. This Towhee is quite shy and will flutter down from the bath and away into the brush to hide if you even attempt to get within 20 feet of him.

I have to refill my sunflower seeds daily for the three bird feeders in my yard. It seems that the pair of Pine Siskin, Chestnut-back Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatch and Junco's are feasting more regularly then I first thought. The decreased Junco population this spring (down from the winter count of 12 to 14) has not really affected the rate at which I have to replace seed. I have been replacing seed more NOW than during the winter. The appearance of a pair of Pine Siskin, who regularly sit for great lengths of time, may be the culprits.

Do two Pine Siskin eat more than twelve Junco? My unscientific study indicates, YES. I would like more information on bird appetites during the Spring to either confirm or dispel my newfound theory..... lol

Mr. Ed Newbold kindly sent me a free birdhouse for having entered into his Yard Bird Race in 2009. I was very excited to pick this up from the Post Office this weekend. A treat!

I have had a few woodpecker visits to the 1/2 eaten suet feeder. I've set out a new suet feeder that the Chickadees seem to enjoy. The suet seems more enjoyable on colder mornings and afternoons.

Hawk downtown Yelm

Spotted a Hawk flying above McDonald's in downtown Yelm this past weekend. He was enjoying the wind.

100 meat eaters and Sandhill Cranes

There is a Sandhill Crane Festival in Othello, Washington in the next few days. If the flock of over "100 meat eaters" that I witnessed on abt. February 27, 2010 at 5:30PM were attempting to get to Othello, Washington in time for the festival, they were headed in the WRONG direction:

For those of you who enjoy watching very large flocks of meat eating
birds.....this would've been a treat for you. Over 100 vultures? or
Eagles? flew Southwest of North Yelm at 5:30 PM today.
They formed two circles and flew at a high altitude enjoying the air
currents, just before it starting raining at 5:40PM.

[I am oftentimes directionally challenged - Northwest
NOT Southwest.]

Noted not likely to be vultures (was told by tweet vulture exp. would be unusual)
Eagles do not flock, either.
No outstretched necks or trailing legs noted w/re: Sandhill Cranes

Very large bird much like an Eagle/Ospry/Vulture.
Flap, flap, glide, soar.
Wingtips with fingerlike projection of feathers like Eagles/Ospry/Vultures.

Rufous Hummingbird

March 22, 2010

After having my head buzzed with the "engine like" noise of a hummer's wings the day before yesterday (21 March 2010) , I have finally seen the first hummingbird of the year: Rufous. He flew out of the trees and paused at the fronds of an Ocean Spray and Evergreen tree, then flew back into the treeline. Many of the Junco's (12-15) that are usually at my feeders are now absent and for a day were replaced by Stellar's Jay and about seven Crow. Driving, I noticed an adult Bald Eagle circling near the JBLM-McChord Roy gate. It appears that many predators(Hawks and Eagles) have been enjoying the warmer weather, lately. Towards Puyallup and 1/2 way to the South Hill mall exit this weekend I spotted a Hawk, too, circling to the right of the freeway. There were many Robins (6 or 7) ground feeding with Towhee's and a Rock Pigeon yesterday afternoon.

Eagles dominate Crows infiltrate

For the past two sunny afternoons, an Eagle has been circling just above tree top level. Three Canada Geese flew over the tree tops yesterday evening at dusk in the direction of the pond. My normal bunch of 12-15 Juncos have been absent. Visits to the feeder are primarily from a pair of Pine Siskin and a pair of Red-Breasted Nuthatch and a Chestnut backed chickadee or two. I have heard Towhees and Stellar Jay in the back brush and have seen at least one of the pair of Varied Thrush. Junco's are largely absent at the feeders and have taken to flitting in the lower branches of evergreen trees. The Stellar Jay annoy my puppy as do the squirrels here in the green belt. Puppy would love to chase them away! I wonder if the absence of Junco's has anything to do with the increased number of crows in the area? Are the Junco's nesting now? Or have they moved? I have noticed quite a few more bugs in the afternoon.

We have had quite a bit of heli traffic in the past month, too. This week I noticed that a group of 6 or 7 crows perched in various tree top locations across approx. 2 acres, call to each other using three caws each and in turn each will respond with three caws. Once, a crow called six or seven caws in quick succession where all seven simultaneously flew away from the direction of an approaching helicopter. I believe that crows are very intelligent. Some say that they can even recognize human faces.

One night, just at dark, there was a bird that flew right by me. It was small in size with pointed wing tips. I wonder if it was a nighthawk.

First Mountain Bluebird - Thurston County Yelm

Along Canal Rd. there is a small stand of Oaks where I watched a
Mountain Bluebird fly across the road earlier this week. I imagine it
is the same Mountain Bluebird that was in this location last year.

See TWEETERS ARCHIVE

Western Bluebird from BirdWeb

Western Bluebirds can be found in eastern Washington at the edges where the forest meets the steppe. They are also found in open coniferous forest, especially Ponderosa pine. They are especially common in areas where nest box projects have provided them with adequate cavities. Nest boxes are in place in Kittitas, Yakima, Klickitat, Walla Walla, Columbia, and Garfield Counties. In western Washington, Mountain Bluebirds are now regular, but uncommon, in the Fort Lewis area, and rare in forest clearings in King, Pierce, Thurston, and Mason Counties, and in prairie areas near Port Townsend (Jefferson County), at the mouth of the Naselle River (Pacific County), Forks (Clallam County), and other sites on the eastern Olympic Peninsula. They can also be found year round in Skamania County.

[Yelm habitat is mostly, prairie]

Mountain Bluebird from Birdweb

Mountain Bluebirds can be found in alpine parklands in the Cascades, the Blue Mountains, and the northeast corner of Washington. They are absent as breeders from the Olympic Mountains. In western Washington, they can be found locally near Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens. In eastern Washington they can be found along Umtanum Ridge (Yakima County), Elk Heights (Kittitas County), in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, and at mid-elevations on the east slope of the Cascades in meadows and logged areas. There is a significant population in Klickitat County around Bickleton where an intensive nest box program has provided many nesting opportunities. The Mountain Bluebird is the only bluebird that nests in alpine parkland and high elevation open areas. In the winter they can be found in flocks in similar habitat and more open, treeless terrain, but they are very uncommon.

Description:
Blue back, wings, and head. White breast.
Earlier notes [2009] indicate, white eyering, white breast, blue wings w/small patch of black overall color blue which suggests a Western Bluebird.

Noted in S. Thurston County, Tenino: 2 - 9 Feb. 2010 on Tweet

Tweets, Monday around noon I spotted a female Mountain Bluebird near 16700
Gibson Rd in s. Thurston Co. This location is about 5 minutes from I-5 via
exit 88 (Grand Mound/Hwy 12 exit), then east on Old Hwy 99 toward Tenino.
Gibson runs north from just past the racetrack, and the bird was located
beyond the jog then north past the 3 chicken barns along the east-west
fenceline on the right that borders the tree farm. I was out searching for
kites and shrikes but also thinking it might be a good day for bluebirds to
be about. (I encountered 4 male Western Bluebirds along Gibson Rd on Feb 9
2009, evidently passing through.) This bird was well off the road but
happened to make a foray to the ground and caught my eye just as I was
driving slowly by. The last time a Mountain Bluebird was reported in
Thurston County it stuck around for several days. Good birding!
-- P. H. / Tenino, s. Thurston Co / phicks AT accessgrace DOT org

Yardbirds

Two pine siskin have been feeding regularly at the feeder full of
black oil sunflower and millet. They will sit togather one on each
side, balancing the feeder and have lunch.

One of five local squirrels attacked that feeder yesterday and snipped
the string holding it in the tree. The string was replaced promptly
with a metal coat hanger. *Gotcha*

Three red-winged black birds sang at the canal in and above the thorny
brush. There are about 15 Juncos that feed regularly here, along with
a pair of red-breasted nuthatches, and the occassional downy
woodpecker.

Watched *something* (Merlin?) dive from a moderate altitude above the
treetop several times. Pointed wing tips. Medium sized bird, about
the size of a large Raven or Crow. This bird dives straight down
really fast. Just before the dive he will flutter in place in
mid-air. Watched him/her dive three or four times. Really neat to
watch.

Oftentimes the crows here will alert us here of soaring Eagles.

There were over 190 ducks and at least 10 Canadian Geese on American
Lake - Lakewood, Pierce County, Saturday. Didn't see any Eagles
Saturday.

Over 100 meat-eaters

For those of you who enjoy watching very large flocks of meat eating
birds.....this would've been a treat for you. Over 100 vultures? or
Eagles? flew Southwest of North Yelm at 5:30 PM today.
They formed two circles and flew at a high altitude enjoying the air
currents, just before it starting raining at 5:40PM.

[I am oftentimes directionally challenged - Northwest
NOT Southwest.]

Noted not likely to be vultures (was told by tweet vulture exp. would be unusual)
Eagles do not flock, either.
No outstretched necks or trailing legs noted w/re: Sandhill Cranes

Very large bird much like an Eagle/Ospry/Vulture.
Flap, flap, glide, soar.
Wingtips with fingerlike projection of feathers like Eagles/Ospry/Vultures.

Great Backyard Bird Count

Weather: excellent


Habitat(s):
coniferous woods
rural
suburban

Number of species: 19


All Reported: yes
Species Count
Great Blue Heron 1
Bald Eagle 2
Accipiter sp. 1
Merlin 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 2
Steller's Jay 3
Common Raven 7
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
American Robin 2
Varied Thrush 2
Spotted Towhee 2
Golden-crowned Sparrow 2
Dark-eyed Junco 14
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 5
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 7
Pine Siskin 1

Comments:
Coopers Hawk or Sharp Shinned Hawk noted to be inside Yelm City Limits on the right near the survey building. Heron noted lighting in deciduous Oak habitat in North Yelm.

Birds: Merlin or Hawk and migration

Birds: Merlin or Hawk and migration

Three large flocks

Three very VERY large flocks of geese or ducks flew over yesterday evening towards the East in North Yelm. Another small flock of about 10 were flying at a much lower altitude. A TWEET from Everette also mentioned seeing a flock of 60 SNOW GEESE headed towards the Snohomish Valley on Jan 19th. I've always thought that these large flocks are being driven by the weather, usually bad weather, and are headed towards a better location.  Most of the larger flocks that I have witnessed were flying or flew over at dusk.  I wonder why?

A few simple answers:

1) FAQ Birdwatchers Digest:
"...Still others, like geese and swans, make their migrations in family groups, led always by an older bird that has made the flight before. There is still much to learn, however, about how birds make such long flights and find precisely the right spot."


2) The Bird Lady
"..The Bird Lady:
Geese are among the few groups of birds that can migrate by day or by night."


3)BWB-ASF Library: Bird Migration Facts


4) PNNL: Science & Engineering - Shurb-Steppe Series: What About Canada Geese?


5)Geese Are Carb-Loading: Green Meditations Blog

FYI - Not everyday can be a good birding day

For those of you who need it ~ today or yesterday or the day before.

Just another sighn.

(typo and pun intended for _____ insert your name here - you know who you are:)-

Cormorants are not woodpeckers

Cliff (Ledge) Nesting Species

Northern Fulmar, Northern Gannet, Brandt’s Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Red-faced Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Herring Gull, Thayer’s Gull, Iceland Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, Red-legged Kittiwake, Common Murre, Thick-billed Murre, Razorbill, - "Breeding Season Survey Techniques for Seabirds and Colonial Waterbirds throughout North America, Steinkamp, M., B. Peterjohn, V. Byrd, H. Carter, and R. Lowe", p. 18 of 81.

The Nisqually River does have a cliff like area that possibly may house Cormorants. Pelagic Cormorants, according to Petersons' maps are primary residents of the Coastal areas of Washington.

Double Crested Cormorants are noted to be common in the Puget Sound area throughout the year and nest colonially on rocky islands, sea cliffs, or in the trees at lakes.

See also:

http://www.jstor.org/pss/3536609

Changes in....nesting 2002

http://www.birdresearchnw.org/Project-Info/Project-Background/Double-Crested-Cormorants/Columbia-River-Estuary-Corms/default.aspx

Columbia River Estuary 

http://yelmbackyard.blogspot.com/2009/07/woodpeckers.html 

Woodpeckers 

http://yelmbackyard.blogspot.com/2009/11/possibilities-or-not-of-juv-ivory.html 

Fun! 

A strange band and two Bald Eagles

I have been watching a flock of Oregon Juncos mixed in with a few Slate and Dark Eyed Juncos feed daily here. I have mentioned earlier that I attempted to take a photograph of a Variegated/Varied Thrush, who is quite skiddish. Well, the Thrush flew INTO the flock of Junco's feeding yesterday. Normally, the Thrush feeds OUTSIDE of the flock. This was different behavior from this Thrush in the last week or so! ALSO there is one more Black capped chickadee now for a full set. The chickadee and the Red Breasted Nuthatch have been eating my millet and making quite the mess for the Junco's to eat below and the 4 squirrels to pick up afterwards. I have had much activity here with this flock of 30 or so Juncos all day!

*One note on the Varied Thrush. He has a second dark black band, the same width of his neck band, near his lower breast or tail area.*

There were two Bald Eagles to fly at a low altitude here yesterday. They were playing and calling out to one another - flying very near one another - darting in and out of one another at close range. They both flew Southwest of here.


Cross posted TWEETERS
NOTE: January 6, 2010

Gulls in V formation

Saw a flock of ? what looked like white (Galucous gulls) flying North of Yelm yesterday afternoon, Jan. 5, 2010  AT  4:00 pm.  Rarely do I see gulls around or near Yelm.  I have never seen gulls  inside of the city of Yelm, unlike many larger cities. This flock of about 25  birds was flying in V formation very quietly.  The nearest (w/in 10 miles) waterbodies are N=LEWIS LAKE and the  N=NISQUALLY RIVER.  I have not seen a flock of gulls fly in V formation before.

Cross Posted TWEETERS

Flock of Junco's

Since my December 29th post, the various Junco's have been re-appearing. The usual flock of Oregon Junco's has grown from 12 to 30 + with a larger number of Slate colored and Dark Eyed Juncos in the
mix. The earlier and smaller flock had only two Slate colored Junco's feeding with them. The flock has grown to include 5 or 6 more Dark Eyed Juncos and several Slate colored Juncos. There is a lone Black-capped chickadee that feeds with them and will dart in to feed and fly up into the trees to peck at his seeds - once. I noticed yesterday that the Red-breasted Nuthatch was with them. He is also an infrequent visitor and will dart into the feeders in a rush to grab food and leave to break open seeds high into the trees. A pair of Varied Thrush has re-appeared at least 3 times this week, too. The flock of 20+ Junco's will feed on the North side and then they fly over to the East side of the yard. Their feeding patterns have changed position a little and are moving towards the feeders again. Normally, the Junco's will light on the feeders during the summer or lawn feed further away into the understory of my front yard (lately) and then move to the back, but since their numbers have increased substantially, they are feeding closer to my windows and away from the understory. I've noticed that they will alert one another, have most of the flock fly away, and leave at least 5 or 6 other Junco's to fend for themselves. The 5 or 6 Juncos remain feeding. Then the flock will slowly fly back, one by one and filter into feeding positions. They repeat this pattern several times even while the squirrels are feeding.


Cross Posted TWEETERS