Date: 6/20/25 8:42 pm From: Denis DeSilvis via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Eagle's Pride Golf Course (GC) monthly bird walk - 06-19-2025
Tweeters,
While starting out cool, the temperature climbed (51degF-67degF) on a gorgeous day at the JBLM Eagle's Pride GC. For the 20 of us, the primary highlight was the sightings of two species of owls: A begging GREAT HORNED OWL and an adult, and an adult BARRED OWL. We don't sight owls very often, despite the forest, but finding two species of owls on one walk was the first since we started over 12 years ago. Other highlights include the following:
- BULLOCK'S ORIOLE - Two adults feeding at least two young at the nest high up in the Douglas-fir near the driving range. This is the fourth year for this species nesting here.
- WOOD DUCK - Seven (four ducklings) at the 9th hole pond.
- NORTHERN HOUSE WREN - Ten, with two nests in boxes at Hodge Lake.
- TREE SWALLOW - 35 - very few last month with none at Hodge Lake. Several nesting at the Hodge Lake boxes.
- OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER - Four, a high count for here.
- WARBLING VIREO - Five, a high count.
- DOWNY WOODPECKER - At least 2, with young being fed at the nest by an adult.
Puzzling was the dramatic downturn of the number of PINE SISKINS. The previous three months' counts were 200-1000; today we found only TWO Pine Siskins. We only positively identified two ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS, although we had two other unidentified hummingbirds that flew past us.
Mammals included two Douglas squirrels and a black-tailed deer. Also, one herp: a garter snake.
The JBLM Eagle's Pride GC birders meet the third Thursday of each month at 8:00AM except for November to February, when the start time is at 9:00AM. Starting point is the Driving Range building, Eagle's Pride Golf Course, I-5 Exit 116, Mounts Road Exit. (Turn left immediately after entering the parking lot to take the road leading to the driving range building.) Upcoming walks include the following:
* July 17
* August 21
* September 18
From the PNW eBird report:
56 species (+1 other taxa)
Wood Duck 7
Mallard 13
Band-tailed Pigeon 5
Anna's Hummingbird 2
hummingbird sp. 2
Pied-billed Grebe 1 At Hodge Lake, calling.
Bald Eagle 4
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Great Horned Owl 2 Owls were being scolded by American Robins and other species. Juvenile was sounding a begging call with adult nearby. Found in forested area near 4th hole of the Green Course.
Barred Owl 1 In forest close to open area on hill past the back side of Hodge Lake. Well seen and photographed.
Red-breasted Sapsucker 4
Downy Woodpecker 2 Adult feeding at least one young in nest.
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 4
Olive-sided Flycatcher 4
Western Wood-Pewee 25
Willow Flycatcher 7
Western Flycatcher 3
Warbling Vireo 5
Steller's Jay 7
Black-capped Chickadee 10
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 17
Tree Swallow 35
Violet-green Swallow 8
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1 At Hodge Lake.
Barn Swallow 30
Bushtit 15
Golden-crowned Kinglet 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch 23
Brown Creeper 3
Northern House Wren 10
Bewick's Wren 3
European Starling 10
Swainson's Thrush 12
American Robin 40
Cedar Waxwing 13
House Finch 6
Purple Finch 5
Red Crossbill 12
Pine Siskin 2
American Goldfinch 2
Chipping Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco 16
White-crowned Sparrow 21
Savannah Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 25
Spotted Towhee 10
Bullock's Oriole 4 Nest about 50ft up in Douglas-fir near the driving range.
