Heavy wind greatly reduced the presence of soaring birds today.   Not a single Red-tailed Hawk to be seen.  Other birds presented themselves politely, like the small flock of Wewsternb Bluebirds that flew into an overhead oak and began gobble down the mistletoe berries:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ring-necked Ducks on Ashland Pond.  And a White Crowned Sparrow there as well.

 

 

 

 

 

And an unintentional dovecote along the edge of the Ashalnd Sewage plant, between chain-link fence and protective shubbery: 

Northern Flickers today were in pairs, and some were calling.  ASnother little indication that breeding season is almost upon us.  Nicest surprise of the morning was a pair of Hooded Mergansers inthe narrow channel of Ashland Creek, less than sixty feet from our path.  Nice looks at both male and female of the pair.  THey were evidently finding food as they continually went under water.

Location:     Bear Valley Greenway–Ashland
Observation date:     2/15/09
Notes:     House Finch, Bewick’s Wren, Red-winged Blackbird and Lesser Goldfinches all singing
Number of species:     36

Canada Goose     20
Wood Duck     25
Mallard     6
Hooded Merganser     2
Great Blue Heron     1
White-tailed Kite     1
Bald Eagle     1
Cooper’s Hawk     1
Wilson’s Snipe     2
Rock Pigeon     30
Mourning Dove     26
Anna’s Hummingbird     1
Acorn Woodpecker     1
Downy Woodpecker     1
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)     4
Western Scrub-Jay     3
American Crow     5
Common Raven     1
Black-capped Chickadee     3

Bushtit     1
White-breasted Nuthatch     1
Bewick’s Wren     1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     1
Western Bluebird     10
American Robin     4
European Starling     45
Spotted Towhee     4
Golden-crowned Sparrow     20
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)     8
Red-winged Blackbird     30
Brewer’s Blackbird     45
Purple Finch     8
House Finch     1
Lesser Goldfinch     16

Pine Siskin    1
House Sparrow     1

Location:     Ashland Pond
Observation date:     2/15/09
Number of species:     19 [four not seen on Greenway portion of the field trip]         Canada Goose     16
Ring-necked Duck     2
American Coot     3
Mourning Dove     1
Downy Woodpecker     1
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)     2
Western Scrub-Jay     1
Black-capped Chickadee     2
White-breasted Nuthatch     1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     1
Spotted Towhee     2
Song Sparrow     1
White-crowned Sparrow     2
Golden-crowned Sparrow     10
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)     6
Red-winged Blackbird     14
Purple Finch     5
Lesser Goldfinch     10
American Goldfinch     1