Motorless update.

Fun fact:  when I'm out riding my bike for my motorless bird list Night Ranger's "Sister Christian" often pops into my head and I start singing "Motor-less!  What's your price for fight... "  If it's a particularly long and uneventful ride I will start making up bird-related lyrics that I refuse to share here.  Make up your own.

I've been a bit more methodical in my motorless birding this year and it's paying off.  I stand at 110 for the year, a number I did not hit till May last year (and June the year before).  Last week I rode out to Mason Wetlands and the Columbia Slough one morning.


On that morning I picked up Orange-crowned and Black-throated Gray Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, Vaux's Swift, Barn and Northern Rough-Winged Swallows, and Lincoln's Sparrow.

Another afternoon I rode out to Broughton Beach, Force Lake, and Vanport Wetlands.

Cliff Swallow (#99), Sea Scout Base

Cinnamon Teal (#103), Vanport Wetlands

That day I added Savannah Sparrow, Cliff Swallow, Redhead, Ruddy Duck, Yellow-headed Blackbird, and Cinnamon Teal.

On a weekend dog walk I picked up a new motorless mammal in the Columbia Slough:


 Beaver!  Only my third time actually seeing a live one.  I also added a motorless cowbird on this dog walk, and found a Northern Flicker had excavated a nest about five feet from the sidewalk on NE 122nd.


Had the flicker not made a huge mess during the excavation process I might not have even noticed.

Yesterday morning I got up early to ride up to Mount Tabor for the first time this spring and picked up most of my target birds and then some.

Nashville Warbler (#107)

 Orange-crowned Warbler

 Band-tailed Pigeon (#105)

 Fox Sparrow (#109)

 Cassin's Vireo (#108)

 Red-breasted Sapsucker


Hermit Thrush (#110)

Six new motorless birds yesterday, two of which were not on my motorless life list!  Hope to add some more before the month is over too.  Good times!!

Comments

  1. Not gonna lie... I have been keeping tabs on your list all year. Congrats on all the great additions and photos to boot! Going motorless is way more fun than I imagined, and I actually have not used my car to go birding at all this year.

    What would you say to a motorless challenge?

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    1. That's so awesome that you're enjoying it! I'm not sure about a challenge... what did you have in mind?

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  2. That song brings me right back in time. Sadly, I think it qualifies as an oldie now. I miss my pick-up because I want to get out on a bike now but don't want to deal with a bike rack or taking tires off. Nice photos and keep on biking!

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    1. Yeah, bike racks are a pain. I just get on my bike at home and go from there...

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  3. You found some super birds...I love that sot of the flicker peeking out of the nest cavity.

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  4. That Flicker is tops. I wonder if he's looking for a roommate.

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  5. You are such a good motorless birder! Go Jen! I may be nearing the end of my listing days. Bored with it. I will still do a yard list, but the rest is taxing. I love your motorless though!

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    Replies
    1. Doing a big year will do that to you! Or so I imagine.

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