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Spring Bird Walk at J2E Tree Farm - May 4, 2025
J2E Bird Walk Report, by Mike Unger (May 4, 2025)
On a recent bird walk at J2E Tree Farm near Philomath, Oregon, we divided into two groups: Joan Hagar, Suzanne Teller, and Sarah Ehlers led Group 1, while Dave Ehlers and I guided Group 2. Eighteen birders participated in total. Both groups walked about 1.25 miles around the property. We traversed a mix of forests, creeks, ponds, and open spaces, observing both birds and the broader natural landscape. The weather started cool at 39°F under mostly clear skies, warming to 50°F as the sun emerged, with calm winds increasing to 14 mph later in the walk. Bird activity was strong: Group 1 recorded 39 species, Group 2 observed 43, with a combined total of 51 species observed during the outing.
Note: One group only kept a general list without separate counts for each species.
Bird Walk Highlights
Overall, it was a productive walk with a strong mix of returning favorites and exciting new additions to the property list.
Salem Audubon offers several bird walks each month. Just go to their website at salemaudubon.org and look under the “Events” tab. We would love to have you join us.
Mike Unger
Keizer, OR
Note: One group only kept a general list without separate counts for each species.
Bird Walk Highlights
- Four new species - Brown Creeper, Pine Siskin, White-crowned Sparrow, and Hairy Woodpecker - were added to the property list, bringing the total number of species observed during these walks to 72. We also set a new record by spotting 51 species in a single walk, the highest number ever recorded during our bird walks.
- Waterfowl sightings included Wood Ducks and Hooded Mergansers on the ponds.
- Group 2 heard a Sooty Grouse at the trail junction above the house.
- Both Anna’s and Rufous Hummingbirds were seen.
- Five warbler species were observed: Orange-crowned Warbler (4), Common Yellowthroat (4), Black-throated Gray Warbler (13), Townsend’s Warbler (1), and Wilson’s Warbler (11). MacGillivray’s, Yellow, and Hermit Warblers were missed.
- All four expected woodpecker species were present: Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Red-breasted Sapsucker, and Northern Flicker. Notably, a pine tree along the south trail showed extensive sap holes.
- Four swallow species -Tree, Violet-green, Cliff, and Barn Swallows - were seen near the ponds, along with numerous Red-winged Blackbirds. The group discussed tips for distinguishing swallows.
- Evening Grosbeaks and several Band-tailed Pigeons flew over the trails. Additional highlights included a Chipping Sparrow and a first Black-headed Grosbeak of the year for many.
- Main misses: MacGillivray’s Warbler, vireos (other than Warbling Vireo), Red-breasted Nuthatch, flycatchers (except Black Phoebe), and Western Tanager.
Overall, it was a productive walk with a strong mix of returning favorites and exciting new additions to the property list.
Salem Audubon offers several bird walks each month. Just go to their website at salemaudubon.org and look under the “Events” tab. We would love to have you join us.
Mike Unger
Keizer, OR
Luckiamute Watershed Council (J2E Tree Farm) Checklist Summary for May 4, 2025 @ 8:11 AM
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Group 1 – Started on south side of property
39 species Wood Duck Wild Turkey Mourning Dove Rufous Hummingbird Killdeer Turkey Vulture Red-breasted Sapsucker Hairy Woodpecker Black Phoebe Warbling Vireo Steller's Jay American Crow Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Barn Swallow Cliff Swallow Golden-crowned Kinglet Red-breasted Nuthatch Northern House Wren Pacific Wren American Robin Evening Grosbeak Purple Finch Pine Siskin American Goldfinch Dark-eyed Junco White-crowned Sparrow Song Sparrow Spotted Towhee Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Orange-crowned Warbler Common Yellowthroat Black-throated Gray Warbler Wilson's Warbler Black-headed Grosbeak |
Group 2 - Started on north side of property
43 species Canada Goose 1 Hooded Merganser 2 Sooty Grouse 1 Band-tailed Pigeon 6 Mourning Dove 2 Anna's Hummingbird 1 Rufous Hummingbird 1 Killdeer 2 Turkey Vulture 2 Bald Eagle 2 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Downy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 1 Black Phoebe 1 Warbling Vireo 1 American Crow 1 Black-capped Chickadee 3 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 1 Tree Swallow 6 Violet-green Swallow 4 Barn Swallow 1 Cliff Swallow 15 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Brown Creeper 2 Pacific Wren 2 American Robin 8 Evening Grosbeak 9 Purple Finch 7 Pine Siskin 3 American Goldfinch 10 Chipping Sparrow 1 Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 2 White-crowned Sparrow 2 Song Sparrow 3 Spotted Towhee 5 Red-winged Blackbird 10 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 Orange-crowned Warbler 4 Common Yellowthroat 4 Black-throated Gray Warbler 13 Townsend's Warbler 1 Heard Wilson's Warbler 11 Black-headed Grosbeak 1 |
Total Identified Species: 51
Checklist links:
Checklist links:
- Group 1 (south side) – https://ebird.org/checklist/S233566171
- Group 2 (north side) – https://ebird.org/checklist/S233215073
- Trip Report link: https://ebird.org/tripreport/362341
A special thank you to Benton Soil & Water Conservation District for providing funding that made this event free of charge to all participants!
