Our freakishly nice spring weather continued this week, so I took Nala to the Sandy River Delta to check for spring migrants. Actually, Nala could not care less about spring migrants, but found the cool waters of the Sandy River just right for ball fetching. Nesting species have not arrived in any numbers yet, but spring is definitely taking off.
Savannah Sparrows were the most obvious singers in the grassland habitats.
catching his breath before the next number
A pair of Belted Kingfishers is nesting along the channel that runs between the Sandy and the Columbia. They kept to the far bank, so these distant grainy images will have to do. This is the female.
And here is the male.
This is a hole. Not terribly interesting on its own, but very cool when it has a Belted Kingfisher entering or leaving it.
Northern Rough-winged Swallows also frequent this area.
The next couple of weeks should bring the delta’s specialties; Lazuli Bunting, Yellow-breasted Chat, Willow Flycatcher, and perhaps Eastern Kingbird. Happy Spring.
Ethical Birder 