I walk five mornings a week in Washington Park and this past week had a couple of interesting experiences (sans photos) there.  On July 25 I was watching a group of about 7-8 Black oystercatchers on the beach near Green Point when another group of about the same size flew in.  I began a more serious count and counted a total of 15 oystercatchers, the most I had counted in all of my years of visiting that location in the park.

Then on July 27 I had just begun my walk when I spied what was probably a Barred owl (probably a juvenile) sitting in a tree very near the road.  I watched it for several minutes and was joined by another couple (also birders) and we all watched the owl for several more minutes. It flew from the tree to the roadside right in front of us and we got to watch it until it was frightened by a couple of less-aware walkers.

We’ve been consistently seeing Barred owls along the southeastern half of the loop road early in the mornings for at least the past couple of weeks.

We’ve had a dearth of warblers and other interesting birds in the yard for the past couple of months, but things have picked up some lately.  On July 27 I spent considerable time in the yard with a handsome reward.  I had notice an unusual number of birds in the yard during the morning but nothing other than the usual visitors.  I decided to opt for a more detailed look with my camera.  As I was idly watching the bird traffic I was suddenly presented with two unusual visitors at once… a juvenile Cedar waxwing and a male Wilson’s warbler!

(These two photos are of the same waxwing, but this first photo of the waxwing was post-bath!)

The appearance of these two birds inspired me so I decided to spend a little more time in the yard.  It was a very good thing I did because a while later I was surprised by another warbler.  At the time I was absorbed in photographing it I thought it was an Orange-crowned warbler, but after it left the yard I had time to gather my thoughts and realized that it was a MacGillivray’s warbler, a very rare visitor to the yard!  I suspect that this bird is either a female or a juvenile and not a mature male which would have a darker mantle and make it easier to recognize.  The main identifying factor is the split white eye ring.

I’ll throw in a Black-headed grosbeak just for good measure.  I’m guessing that this is either a female or a juvenile.  We’ve had at least two pairs of grosbeaks in the yard this season and they, and their offspring, are regular visitors to the feeders.

The next day I was inspired to sit in the yard again.  I photographed this Orange-crowned warbler early and a male Wilson’s warbler in the afternoon.  Unfortunately I saw the Wilsons warbler bathing in the watercourse from the kitchen window but failed to sneak a good photo of it, having to settle for a shot of it preening in a madrone tree.

The hummingbird wars are on in earnest with a male Anna’s hummingbird attempting to keep another Anna’s and one or more female Rufous hummingbirds at bay and off the feeders and the salvia.

And finally (remember there’s always a “finally”!), while I was initially buoyed by the lack of juvenile Brown-headed cowbirds the area fielded this season, we now have Spotted towhees, White-crowned sparrows and Dark-eyed juncos (Oregon race) all feeding cowbird chicks.  : (   These are all species that have been susceptible to cowbird predation in past seasons here in the yard.