Tweeters,
This gorgeous sunny, blue-sky day was perfect in many ways for this 5th anniversary of the JBLM Eagles Pride GC birdwalk. A cool 38degF warmed quickly to low 60's by 11:30 AM. The 22 of us had excellent views of some early arrivals, as well as some usual suspects. A WARBLING VIREO was seen by many, as was at least one of the three WILSON'S WARBLERS (another was vocalizing). One surprise at the start of our walk was a SAVANNAH SPARROW perched about 30 feet up in an Oregon (Garry) white oak along the 18th fairway across from the driving range. While not early (according to eBird), a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER near the Dupont housing area was a bonus. Swallows included BARN, VIOLET-GREEN, and TREE. (The nest boxes at Hodge Lake are hosting many Tree and Violet-green Swallows.) We had a sighting and many vocalizations from the first PILEATED WOODPECKER recorded in several years. (This bird, (perhaps two?) was coursing around our route for most of the morning.) Although expected, a singing ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER gave many of us one of the best views we had of this species -- brilliantly front-lit in a low oak, with the orange "crown" exceptionally striking. And for the second month in a row, a NORTHERN HARRIER perked up all the hawk watchers.
Unfortunately our sponsor for the walk, Dave W., was tied up doing REAL work at the golf course. He would have had a blast with just keeping track of all we saw. Thanks to Jon A for keeping score as we went! And to Russ S for getting the eBird site location and overall eBird tallies sorted.
The JBLM Eagles Pride GC birders meet the third Thursday of each month at 8:00AM. Starting point is Bldg # 1514, Driving Range Tee, Eagles Pride Golf Course, I-5 Exit 116, Mounts Road Exit. Upcoming walks include the following:
• May 17
• June 21 (Summer Solstice)
• July 19
Anyone is welcome to join us!
52 species (+8 other taxa)
Mallard (Northern) 4 A pair at Hodge Lake and another pair at the 12th hole pond.
Ring-necked Duck 4 All at Hodge Lake.
Bufflehead 11 Hodge Lake.
Pied-billed Grebe 1 Hodge Lake.
Turkey Vulture 3
Osprey 1
Northern Harrier 1
Bald Eagle 3
Red-tailed Hawk (calurus/alascensis) 3
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 5 This may be a new species for the birdwalk - to be checked.
Band-tailed Pigeon 8
Mourning Dove 2
Anna's Hummingbird 6
Rufous Hummingbird 8
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 Drumming.
Downy Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 3
Northern Flicker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 1
woodpecker sp. 1 We knew a woodpecker flew by, but no positive ID.
Hutton's Vireo 1 Vocalizing near the Dupont housing area.
Warbling Vireo 1 * Flagged as early. Seen by many; Grey, black line through the eye, whitish supercilium. With Wilson's Warbler also feeding nearby in the road behind Hodge Lake.
Steller's Jay (Coastal) 9
California Scrub-Jay 2
American/Northwestern Crow 12
Common Raven 2
Tree Swallow 6 All of these were at or near the nestboxes at Hodge Lake.
Violet-green Swallow 15 Several near the driving range, and most of the rest at the nestboxes at Hodge Lake.
Barn Swallow 7
Black-capped Chickadee 14
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 24
Bushtit (Pacific) 8 One nest being built near the 12th hole pond.
Red-breasted Nuthatch 8
Brown Creeper 6
Pacific Wren 11
Bewick's Wren 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 18
American Robin 36
Varied Thrush 1
European Starling 4
Orange-crowned Warbler 10
Orange-crowned Warbler (lutescens) 2
Common Yellowthroat 4
Yellow-rumped Warbler 18
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 6
Black-throated Gray Warbler 1
Wilson's Warbler 3 *Flagged as early. 2 Males seen, yellow with black cap; one vocalizing
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 9
White-crowned Sparrow 4
White-crowned Sparrow (pugetensis) 18
Savannah Sparrow 1 30 feet up in a Garry Oak along the 18th fairway across from the driving range.
Song Sparrow 26
Spotted Towhee 4
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 3
Red-winged Blackbird 9
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
Purple Finch 3
Pine Siskin 42
View this checklist online at
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44738472
May all your birds be identified,
Denis DeSilvis
avnacrs4birds at outlook.com
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