The “hoodie” on Ashland Pond today.  A female Hooded Merganser.  This was my consolation prize.  I didn’t refind the White-throated Sparrow I’d seen at the pond on Wed. and Thurs.  John and Stephanie Bullock and another birder did find that sparrow and a Lincoln’s before I arrived mid-day.

It was warmish.  Frogs jumped into the pond if you got near the shoreline.  Gnats were flying about.

A calling Red-shouldwered Hawk was there today.  Second sighting of the species at Ashland Pond in the past week.  Our large buteo, the red-taileded Hawk, was represented by one soaring and calling.

The Great Blue Heron never moved the entire time I was there.

Wigeon motoring away.

I think I recognize this strange female duck from Lithia Park.  It’s apparently a Mallard X domestic white duck.

Front view of the Red Shouldered Hawk.  In between screams.

This Downy had been drilling on the hole at right.  Practice?  Beak-sharpening?  Drilling a new sleeping hole for the winter?

Location:     Ashland Pond
Observation date:     10/31/09
Number of species:     21

Wood Duck     4
American Wigeon     37
Mallard     20
Hooded Merganser     1
Pied-billed Grebe     1
Great Blue Heron     1
Red-shouldered Hawk     1
Red-tailed Hawk     1
Acorn Woodpecker     2
Downy Woodpecker     1
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)     1
Western Scrub-Jay     12
American Crow     2
Common Raven     1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     1
American Robin     1
European Starling     7
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon’s)     10
Spotted Towhee     3
Song Sparrow     1
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)     4