It was a Junco-heavy day in Scappoose this second Saturday in February. The weather has suddenly turned from unexpectedly frigid with snow and ice to mild with sporadic rain (the normal weather for the area in February). The heavy concentrations of birds clustering around the feeders dispersed almost immediately leaving the usual visitors to pretty much have the run of things. The usual residents being, of course, primarily the Oregon subspecies of Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis oregonus).
Of the seventy-two images retreived from my Wingscapes BirdCam this evening, sixty-three were of this very type of Junco. Of course, a few other species put in appearences as well. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) was also recorded by the BirdCam.
Of course, it simply wouldn’t be a winter day here at the edge of the forest in northwest Oregon without Townsend’s Warbler (Dendroica townsendi) also being noted. Without these little warblers, the Varied Thrushes (Ixoreus naevius), and the Western Scrub and Steller’s Jays (Aphelocoma californica and Cyanocitta stelleri) winter here would be almost entirely populated by earth-tone birds.
Aside from the splendid images of wildlife that can be captured with the Wingscapes BirdCam, impromptu self-portraits can also be made when making adjustments while the camera is active. Case in point: the rather odd bird shown here (must be an oldie; the red plumage is looking a bit grey).
Peace and good bird watching.
