New Year, new year bird list.
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This is ridiculous, scary weather for western Oregon in January. But just for today, I'm choosing not to think about what it means for our water year or what it portends for summer. We spent 3 hours birding Salem's Minto-Brown Island Refuge and Park, and saw 21 species of birds, 6 of them new to me for the year. Glorious walk.
39) Gadwall
40) Great Blue Heron
41) Bald Eagle
42) Red-tailed Hawk
43) Belted Kingfisher
44) Western BluebirdOne more, and now I'm really running out of easy winter ones. Still a few weird ducks to track down, but then it's going to slow way down until spring migration arrival. I'm three ahead of last year at this time, and more importantly, I've had some very pretty walks.
45) Golden-crowned Sparrow
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Fabulous day, bird-wise at least. It's very funny how long it took me to see a goose. They're everywhere, just not where I was walking until today. One of my favorite things is seeing two similar birds next to each other, to clearly see the differences. Today I got that with the woodpeckers. What a treat.
33) Canada Goose
34) Downy Woodpecker
35) Hairy Woodpecker
36) American Kestrel
37) Pacific Wren
38) Fox Sparrow@ianrosewrites Oh how glorious ! I’ve never seen downies and hairies right next to each other. I am a big fan of the photos I find online of such moments, however.
I haven’t added to my list much this week, but I was tickled it took me ‘til #31 to see a house sparrow: I’ve noticed before that I live in a quite song sparrow-dominated spot!
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@ianrosewrites Oh how glorious ! I’ve never seen downies and hairies right next to each other. I am a big fan of the photos I find online of such moments, however.
I haven’t added to my list much this week, but I was tickled it took me ‘til #31 to see a house sparrow: I’ve noticed before that I live in a quite song sparrow-dominated spot!
@faerye I still haven't seen a house sparrow! Or a pigeon. I haven't done any bird watching on city streets yet, so those two will have to wait.
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One more, and now I'm really running out of easy winter ones. Still a few weird ducks to track down, but then it's going to slow way down until spring migration arrival. I'm three ahead of last year at this time, and more importantly, I've had some very pretty walks.
45) Golden-crowned Sparrow
I had to drop someone off at the airport very early this morning, and took the opportunity to visit two of my favorite spots from back when I lived around Portland: Greenway Park and Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. Between the two, I saw 30 species of birds, 8 new for the year. I definitely have work to catch up on from taking the extra time off, but it was well worth it. Both places are gems, and if you get a chance, I can't recommend visiting them enough.
46) Cackling Goose
47) Green-winged Teal
48) Common Merganser
49) Great Egret
50) Northern Shoveler
51) Northern Pintail
52) Ruddy Duck
53) Pied-billed Grebe -
I had to drop someone off at the airport very early this morning, and took the opportunity to visit two of my favorite spots from back when I lived around Portland: Greenway Park and Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. Between the two, I saw 30 species of birds, 8 new for the year. I definitely have work to catch up on from taking the extra time off, but it was well worth it. Both places are gems, and if you get a chance, I can't recommend visiting them enough.
46) Cackling Goose
47) Green-winged Teal
48) Common Merganser
49) Great Egret
50) Northern Shoveler
51) Northern Pintail
52) Ruddy Duck
53) Pied-billed GrebeWhen I watch birds, I tend to do it in the wildest places I have time to get to, and so it sometimes takes me a while to see city birds that are some of the most common in the country. Today, in the parking lot of Jackson-Frazier Wetland, I finally picked up the rare, the elusive, the enigmatic:
54) House Sparrow
#BirdsOf2026 -
When I watch birds, I tend to do it in the wildest places I have time to get to, and so it sometimes takes me a while to see city birds that are some of the most common in the country. Today, in the parking lot of Jackson-Frazier Wetland, I finally picked up the rare, the elusive, the enigmatic:
54) House Sparrow
#BirdsOf2026Today is the start of this year's Great Backyard Bird Count. I went to my local wetland and heard one of the few birds that this mediocre auditory birder can reliably count by sound, as two rails were calling at each other from opposite sides of the boardwalk.
Any eBird observations from now through Monday help scientists and managers more effectively protect birds for decades to come.
More info: https://www.birdcount.org/55) Virginia Rail
#BirdsOf2026 -
Today is the start of this year's Great Backyard Bird Count. I went to my local wetland and heard one of the few birds that this mediocre auditory birder can reliably count by sound, as two rails were calling at each other from opposite sides of the boardwalk.
Any eBird observations from now through Monday help scientists and managers more effectively protect birds for decades to come.
More info: https://www.birdcount.org/55) Virginia Rail
#BirdsOf2026@ianrosewrites
Awesome! Thanks for posting this! -
Today is the start of this year's Great Backyard Bird Count. I went to my local wetland and heard one of the few birds that this mediocre auditory birder can reliably count by sound, as two rails were calling at each other from opposite sides of the boardwalk.
Any eBird observations from now through Monday help scientists and managers more effectively protect birds for decades to come.
More info: https://www.birdcount.org/55) Virginia Rail
#BirdsOf2026Good little-bird day at the park today. Three sparrow species—song, golden-crowned and white-crowned—plus juncos, hummingbirds, chickadees, wren, etc. Probably a killdeer too, which would have been #57, but I wasn't quite sure enough to count it.
56) White-crowned Sparrow
#BirdsOf2026 -
Good little-bird day at the park today. Three sparrow species—song, golden-crowned and white-crowned—plus juncos, hummingbirds, chickadees, wren, etc. Probably a killdeer too, which would have been #57, but I wasn't quite sure enough to count it.
56) White-crowned Sparrow
#BirdsOf2026I know I've heard Phoebes before today, but I hadn't positively identified one until this great look this morning, perched close and singing at Starker Arts Park in Corvallis.
57) Black Phoebe
#BirdsOf2026 -
I know I've heard Phoebes before today, but I hadn't positively identified one until this great look this morning, perched close and singing at Starker Arts Park in Corvallis.
57) Black Phoebe
#BirdsOf2026We pretty regularly get chickadees both -capped and -backed at the farm, but I can't ID the latter by song, so it always takes me a little longer. Gotcha.
58) Chestnut-backed Chickadee
#BirdsOf2026 -
We pretty regularly get chickadees both -capped and -backed at the farm, but I can't ID the latter by song, so it always takes me a little longer. Gotcha.
58) Chestnut-backed Chickadee
#BirdsOf2026I saw my first vulture of the year today, often one of my favorite days of the year. My muse, my champion, the golden purifier, Cathartes aura. And I can't even enjoy it. I can't welcome this old friend back to my skies, because I am mourning those my government is killing and the many, many more who will die and be harmed because of it.
59) Turkey Vulture
#BirdsOf2026 -
I saw my first vulture of the year today, often one of my favorite days of the year. My muse, my champion, the golden purifier, Cathartes aura. And I can't even enjoy it. I can't welcome this old friend back to my skies, because I am mourning those my government is killing and the many, many more who will die and be harmed because of it.
59) Turkey Vulture
#BirdsOf2026@ianrosewrites
I get excited when we see the vultures return. They haven't showed up in our area of east Lane County, yet.And I share you other sentiments.
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I saw my first vulture of the year today, often one of my favorite days of the year. My muse, my champion, the golden purifier, Cathartes aura. And I can't even enjoy it. I can't welcome this old friend back to my skies, because I am mourning those my government is killing and the many, many more who will die and be harmed because of it.
59) Turkey Vulture
#BirdsOf2026Introduced, but they count. It's not their fault that we brought them here, or that they happen to like it so much and do so well where we put them. The hoo-HOO-hoos have arrived.
60) Eurasian Collared-Dove
#BirdsOf2026 -
Introduced, but they count. It's not their fault that we brought them here, or that they happen to like it so much and do so well where we put them. The hoo-HOO-hoos have arrived.
60) Eurasian Collared-Dove
#BirdsOf2026Swallow season has arrived in western Oregon, and to me at least, it has come all at once. I usually see Trees at least a little before VGs, but today they both put on a show at Willamette Park and showed me all their butts and faces, so I could see the difference. Welcome to spring.
61) Tree Swallow
62) Violet-green Swallow -
Swallow season has arrived in western Oregon, and to me at least, it has come all at once. I usually see Trees at least a little before VGs, but today they both put on a show at Willamette Park and showed me all their butts and faces, so I could see the difference. Welcome to spring.
61) Tree Swallow
62) Violet-green Swallow@ianrosewrites
I had to look up what a Tree Swallow looks like. Now, I'm wondering if I have been assuming they all were Violent-green Swallows. -
@ianrosewrites
I had to look up what a Tree Swallow looks like. Now, I'm wondering if I have been assuming they all were Violent-green Swallows.@scandigonian They can be tricky until you get to know them. It helps so much to see them next to each other.
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Swallow season has arrived in western Oregon, and to me at least, it has come all at once. I usually see Trees at least a little before VGs, but today they both put on a show at Willamette Park and showed me all their butts and faces, so I could see the difference. Welcome to spring.
61) Tree Swallow
62) Violet-green SwallowSpring continues its approach, and the migration is speeding up. Today, at Ankeny Hill refuge, I spotted my first migrating hummingbird of the year, a great look at a male rufous. After a long flight on such tiny wings, I hope you have a good summer, little one.
63) Rufous Hummingbird
#BirdsOf2026 #oregon -
Spring continues its approach, and the migration is speeding up. Today, at Ankeny Hill refuge, I spotted my first migrating hummingbird of the year, a great look at a male rufous. After a long flight on such tiny wings, I hope you have a good summer, little one.
63) Rufous Hummingbird
#BirdsOf2026 #oregonI spend most of my time watching birds in parks and wilder land, and that means I sometimes miss the ones that hang out in human spaces. These days, you're more likely to see these dudes in a big box store parking lot than their native wetlands and grasslands, but I'm glad I saw them on the farm, in the grass where they belong.
64) Brewer's Blackbird
#BirdsOf2026 -
I spend most of my time watching birds in parks and wilder land, and that means I sometimes miss the ones that hang out in human spaces. These days, you're more likely to see these dudes in a big box store parking lot than their native wetlands and grasslands, but I'm glad I saw them on the farm, in the grass where they belong.
64) Brewer's Blackbird
#BirdsOf2026This was my first real trip to the coast this year, where I could actually sit and watch birds, and it was spectacular. Seaducks for days. The harleys in particular are a bird I don't see every year and haven't in the last few. Add in my first pelicans of the year and a lovely close look at a male crossbill, and it was all such a treat.
65) Western Gull
66) Harlequin Duck
67) Black Oystercatcher
68) Surf Scoter
69) Red Crossbill
70) Black Scoter
71) Brown Pelican -
This was my first real trip to the coast this year, where I could actually sit and watch birds, and it was spectacular. Seaducks for days. The harleys in particular are a bird I don't see every year and haven't in the last few. Add in my first pelicans of the year and a lovely close look at a male crossbill, and it was all such a treat.
65) Western Gull
66) Harlequin Duck
67) Black Oystercatcher
68) Surf Scoter
69) Red Crossbill
70) Black Scoter
71) Brown PelicanSpring continues to arrive, one migrant bird at a time. I had a fabulous half-hour walk at Jackson-Frazier Wetland, with 18 species and 2 new for the year. Oregonians, get out every day you can. Literally see it before it burns, because the summer is going to be rough.
72) Barn Swallow
73) Orange-crowned Warbler
#BirdsOf2026
