June 14, 2020
Welcome back Backyard BirdRacers!
Last year we introduced the new and revised version of the Backyard BirdRace.
This time around, we each watch for birds in our yard — however you want to define that — and keep a list of them to share here each month in the BirdRace diary. We’ll each be keeping track of our own bird lists this time. eBird is a very easy way to do that. Or you can write them down in a notebook. 📒
Or you can take pictures and add them to a folder on your computer.
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There are no “rules” for the BirdRace beyond what you set for yourself. Some ideas for information that you might share here as part of the conversation, any combination of:
- a total list of birds you’ve seen
- new birds you’ve seen, since the last tally
- interesting behavior you’ve seen
- any patterns or changes in patterns
- general location in the country
- type of habitat
If you move during the year, it would be very interesting to compare the backyard birds you see in the different settings!
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My general locale is coastal northwest Washington state, a mix of habitats from shrubs to woods to roadside to beach overlook.
As of the middle of June, I have 76 total backyard birds with 9 new since the last tally, 6 of whom are summer migrants (marked with *) who have arrived for the season.
New birds:
Barred owl
Western Screech owl
Olive-sided Flycatcher *
Swainson’s thrush *
Cedar waxwing *
House sparrow
Evening grosbeak *
Yellow Warbler *
Wilson’s Warbler *
Now I will admit 4 of those birds I only heard, but they have such distinctive voices, they can’t be mistaken for anyone else. Everybody know the Barred Owl’s Who Cooks For You ou ou, which I hear many nights from the woods. But you may be less familiar with the Western Screech Owl, which doesn’t screech at all. It’s more a trill.
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While the owls are a nighttime treat at any time of year, these next two birds say SUMMER to me since they’re only here in this season.
The Olive-sided Flycatcher’s Quick 3 Beers stands out anywhere. This video is terrible (photographer on a pogo stick?) but you can (maybe) see how nondescript the bird is compared to its song.
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And the Swainson’s thrush, who takes over from our winter resident Hermit Thrush, is similarly fluty but his song goes up and up and up.
Please add your Birdrace observations in a comment below.
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And of course as always, we welcome your notes about any aspect of nature in your area.
This diary is also The Daily Bucket for today.
The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge.
We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
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I’ve been seeing a few Evening Grosbeaks this summer, both male and female. They don’t stop by every year. They’ve been enjoying the fountain, so that may be another attraction here along with the sunflower seeds. No good pics at the fountain, but even through a dirty window these birds are pretty gorgeous.
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Partly cloudy weather today in the PNW and continuing cool. Might get up to 60° today.
What’s up in nature in your area today?
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