Coastal Great Horned Owl?

Great Horned Owl: An gray, brown or reddish owl with white on the chest and other areas. A true owl native to the Americas. The horns on a Great Horned Owl are not actually horns, nor are they ears -- they are just tufts of feathers.

I spotted what may have been a Coastal Great Horned Owl in a tree on the back side of Lone Mountain. It flew from the tree to the top of Loyola Village. Unfortunately, it didn't make any sounds that I could hear.

Food Photo Essay

English Ivy

English Ivy: (Hedera helix) A species of ivy that is native to western Asia and most of Europe. In it's native range it is valued for attracting wildlife. Ivy is found in many areas of the United States, New Zealand and Australia, and is labeled as an invasive species in most of the areas in which it has been introduced. It is illegal to sell or import ivy in the state of Oregon.

I found this ivy growing along the side of the parking garage on main campus. I see ivy all over the place around here and it's also very common around my house in Portland, Oregon.

Bushtit

Bushtit (Auriparus flaviceps): A very small  grayish-brown bird that is common in brush and open woods. They are always in flocks that move rapidly together and chatter constantly. They eat aphids and other tiny insects. This bird is found across the southwestern United States and up the Pacific coastline to British Columbia.


I've seen flocks of Bushtits in Golden Gate Park. It's fun to watch them move all together to another bush or area. 

California Scrub Jay

California Scrub Jay: A coastal subspecies group of the Western Scrub Jay, a species that ranges from southern Washington State east to central Texas and south to central Mexico. It is a medium sized bird with blue, white and gray coloration. Western Scrub Jay habitats are typically scrub-brush, boreal forests, temperate forests, coastal regions and suburban areas. Scrub Jays are often referred to as or associated with Blue Jays, but this is a false connection. The two are entirely separate species.

I see Western Scrub Jays, probably the California Scrub Jay, often in Golden Gate Park.

[A really great photo taken by someone else]

White-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucphrys): A common bird in North America. Large for a sparrow, with distinct white on the head as adults. The white "eyebrow" has black stripes above and below. Juveniles are more gray/brown.

I think I saw a few White-cowned Sparrows on Lone Mountain. I realized that I may be mixing up the Black-capped Chickadee with White-crowned Sparrows. I'll have to make sure to pay attention to the color on the top of the head and the wing feathers colors.