The color of autumn leaves is still predominant at low elevations where native and introduced deciduous trees are found. The oaks, maples, aspen, alder, dogwood, willow and cottonwoods all carry some of their 2009 edition leaves. By the end of November most of those will be on the ground or washed downstream.
The wild mustard and a few chicory weeds still bear flowers. Those, too, will be gone by Thanskgiving. The frogs that hop into Ashland Pond on warm, sunny mornings will be sleeping ‘neath the mud before long. It’s been two weeks since I saw my last garter snake. The young fawns have lost their baby spots and grown their long, winter coat.
Now much of the motion in the treetops is not avian, it’s the flutter of another leaf falling toward earth. That yellow flash is not a warbler in flight, but a willow leaf afloat on the chill air. And we may now be seeing the winter bird assortment that will be with us through February. Robins and Cedar Waxwings are now scarce around Ashalnd. I’ve seen only one Varied Thrush.
Down at Ashland Pond I stopped to locate a scolding Ruby-crowned Kinglet constantly calling from dense cover. I never did spot the tiny Kinglet, but what had him upset was a Red-shoulderd Hawk hunkered in the low bursh along between Ashland Pond and Bear Creek.
The single female Hooded Merganser continues on the pond and the Black Phoebe can be seen nearly every morning. Occasionally a Kingfisher is in the area, rattling around. Thye sparrow count seemed low, and I couldn’t re-find the White-throated. The smallband of Purple Finches will likely be in the area until the snow begins to melt in the mountains next spring.
And up on Granite Street the Western Screech-Owl continues to roost in his same tree despite the loud demoliton and construction action on the lot next door.
In our garden the Wild Turkeys have becoe regulars, politely–so far–refraining from digging our newly planted shrubs with their large feet. The Band-tailed Pigeons visit daily. The number of Lesser Goldfinches has dropped while Juncos slowly accrete. The one Mountain Chickadee is often bullied by the flock of smaller, aggressive Black-capped Chickadees. The White-breated Nuthatch so far has not had to share feeders with the Red-breasted which every winter come down from the higher slopes. No Siskins here yet, and only occasional visits from wintering sparrows, aside from the omnipresent Spotted Towhees who live here and see no reason to be nomadic.
Location: Ashland Pond
Observation date: 11/1/09
Number of species: 21
Canada Goose 17
Wood Duck 2
American Wigeon 45
Mallard 22
Hooded Merganser 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Rock Pigeon 30
Mourning Dove 4
Belted Kingfisher 1
Acorn Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 4
Black Phoebe 1
Western Scrub-Jay 15
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3
Spotted Towhee 4
Song Sparrow 5
Golden-crowned Sparrow 4
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 6
Purple Finch 6
Lesser Goldfinch 3
