The Big Year Begins

For some reason I am intimidated by the deceleration of a big year. So much can happen in the course of two months let alone twelve. I don't have the resources to do a really big year so it almost seems anticlimactic to even call what I am doing a big year. But then if I see 475 species it will be a bigger year than I have ever had so the game is afoot.

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Today was not really a day of birding but I knew I would be outside so anytime I am outside I am birding. My son and grandson were here for a short visit and we wanted to maximize the few hours we had with them. They are easy to please and since they have not been here before, they were pretty much satisfied going anywhere to see the beauties of Oregon. We were headed down to Lava Butte so they could see some volcanoes since they have never actually seen any active or not. I decided we had to take a side trip and at least try for an America Dipper since I had sort of said that it would be the first “Bird of the Year” for my friends at the Three Sister's School. Glenda managed to find one and the kids enjoyed exploring along the Deschutes River.

American Dipper

Female Western Tanager

When we arrived at the visitors center for Lava Lands National Monument, the Glenda took the kids inside and I of course perused the trees to see what was shaking. The rangers at the visitor's center have set up a water feature nearby and I soon realized it was very active. It was a great spot for pictures and the list started building. The boys had to leave in the afternoon so we said our goodbyes and I decided to relax before heading out this evening for a little more birding.

Female Lazuli Bunting

The Vaux's Swifts are migrating through and every year they seek out roosting places in the abandoned chimneys located along their route. The bird club I belong to have been monitoring this activity for years so I headed down to the old Library building in Downtown to watch as about two hundred birds came to roost at the end of the day. This is happening all around Oregon and in downtown Portland, there is a very large abandoned smoke stack at an old school that is host to many hundreds of swifts during migration. They start coming around about thirty to forty minutes before sunset and as darkness nears, it's like someone gives the signal and they begin to fly up in a funnel formation and swirl down the chimney to roost till morning.

Vaux's Swift coming to Roost in the Chimney

Three more Vaux's Swift coming in to roost

The List
1 Mallard, Bend- Oregon
2 Turkey Vulture- Bend, Oregon
3 Vaux's Swift- Bend, Oregon
4 Western Wood Peewee- Bend, Oregon
5 Steller's Jay- Bend, Oregon
6 Western Scrub Jay- Bend, Oregon
7 Clark's Nutcracker- Lava Butte
8 Raven- Lava Butte
9 Tree Swallow- Bend, Oregon
10 Mountain Chickadee- Lava Butte
11 Red-breasted Nuthatch- Lava Butte
12 White-breasted Nuthatch- Lava Butte
13 Pygmy Nuthatch- Lava Butte
14 American Dipper- Bend, Oregon
15 Cedar Waxwing- Bend, Oregon
16 European Starling- Bend, Oregon
17 Yellow-rumpped Warbler- Lava Butte
18 Green-tailed Towhee- Lava Butte
19 Chipping Sparrow- Lava Butte
20 Dark-eyed Junco- Lava Butte
21 Western Tanager- Lava Butte
22 Lazuli Bunting- Lava Butte
23 Red Crossbill-  Lava Butte
24 Osprey - Downtown Bend, Oregon
25 Rock Pigeon - Bend, Oregon
26 American Robin - Bend, Oregon
27 Brewer's Blackbird - Bend, Oregon
28 American Crow - Bend, Oregon

 Off to a good start, especially for a “non” birding day. Tomorrow is a big day of packing so very little birding going on. Wednesday we need to make some miles so we can get as close as possible to spend a day in Glacier National Park. More to come.