Menu of January-May 2001 (sections 01.1-01.43) Bird Field Notes
by Kathy Merrifield from the Sandpiper (a publication
of Yaquina Birders & Naturalists, Lincoln County, Oregon)
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Section Month of
No. Sandpiper, Volume 22
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01.1 January 2001
01.8 February 2001
01.19 March 2001
01.27 April 2001
01.35 May 2001
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01.1 BIRD FIELD NOTES from the January 2001 Sandpiper 22(1)
by Kathy Merrifield
Comments in this column about abundance or seasonality refer to
LINCOLN COUNTY only.
Abbreviations and some Lincoln Co. site locations: Bayshore
Beach=ocean beach along north Alsea Bay Spit, Beaver Creek=creek flowing
through Ona Beach State Park, Coquille Point=MP 3.4 on Yaquina Bay Road,
Eckman Lake=lake just east of Waldport along Hwy 34, Eckman Slough=slough
between Alsea Bay and Eckman Lake, HMSC =Hatfield Marine Science Center,
HY=hatch-year (bird that hatched in 2001), Hidden Valley=valley between
Newport and Toledo accessible by downward road at about mile 11.9 along
north Yaquina Bay Road, Idaho Flats=large embayment just east of the
HMSC, Ona Beach=state park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along
Hwy 101, Sallys Bend=large embayment east of the LNG tank at Yaquina Bay,
Sandpiper Village=residential areas west of Hwy 101 and just north of
Waldport, Sawyer's Landing=marina at MP 4.1 along North Yaquina Bay Road,
Thiel Creek=creek about 3.5 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge, USFWS = U. S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Wandemere=about 0.5 mi north of Ona Beach
along Hwy 101, YBCBC=Yaquina Bay Christmas Bird Count, YBSJ=Yaquina Bay
South Jetty.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.2 PASSING THE TORCH
Why would an antisocial grouch like me become field notes editor?
Simply because the countless benefits I have derived from these field
notes have resulted in a huge debt of gratitude. When the call for a new
editor came, I could not in good conscience ignore it. The Sandpiper
field notes over the 12 years I've received them are now zealously
guarded bound volumes serving as priceless references.
Among my lessons from these field notes and from previous editors
(Range Bayer and Darrel Faxon) is the skill and value of observation.
Observation is the basis of both science and creativity. I have learned
as much about observation, science, and creativity from the collective
YB&N effort, and especially from Range, than I have from years of formal
study.
So if you see smoke drifting over the Coast Range, it's just because
the torch has been passed over here. Thanks, everyone, and thanks,
Darrel and Range!
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.3 LOONS - TUBENOSES
Up to 80 RED-THROATED LOONS were off Boiler Bay in PP's 1/4, 1/9,
and 1/10 seawatches, and 65 flocked off Seal Rock on 1/15 (KM). 30
PACIFIC LOONS flew south off Boiler Bay on 1/10 (PP).
Single EARED GREBES were off Boiler Bay on 1/1 (PS) and Seal Rock on
1/15 (KM), and 13 flocked in Sally's Bend on 1/7 (KM).
48 NORTHERN FULMARS were found dead along 4.6 miles of beach near
Thiel Creek in December (B&SLo, LO); of the 40 in PP's 1/10 seawatch,
only two were light-phase. 2 SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATERS flew off Boiler
Bay on 1/1 (PS). 13 SOOTY SHEARWATERS found dead along 4.6 miles of
beach near Thiel Creek in December (B&SLo, LO), and 1 flew off Boiler Bay
on 1/10 Jan (PP).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.4 WATERFOWL
The high count of 155 BRANT in Yaquina Bay was noted in the USFWS
1/2&3 midwinter count (RL). About 30 WHITE-FRONTED GEESE grazed in a
pasture near Ona Beach on 1/20 (LO). The USFWS count also recorded
1,646 AMERICAN WIGEONS in Yaquina Bay and 3,170 in Alsea Bay (RL).
2 male EURASIAN WIGEONS were at Idaho Flats on 12/17, 1/6, and 1/8 (KM,
MR, BLl). In Eckman Lake a male REDHEAD performed for SaL on 1/15.
The high count of HARLEQUIN DUCKS was 9 off Seal Rock on 1/4 (TaB);
others were in Boiler Bay on 1/4 (PP) and off Devil's Punchbowl SP on
1/6 (MR). 3 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were 2 miles south of Waldport on 12/31
(JGe), and they were recorded off Yaquina Head on 12/17 & 18 (BLM).
150 scoters including 15 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and 135 SURF SCOTERS
rafted 2 mi south of Waldport on 1/1 (JGe). 750 BLACK and SURF SCOTERS
rafted off Yaquina Head on 1/7, and on 1/15, 1300 WHITE-WINGED and SURF
SCOTERS rafted off Yachats (KM). Small numbers of BLACK SCOTERS were at
YBSJ on 1/4 (TaB) and at Boiler Bay on 1/4 and 1/10 (PP).
CP saw a male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE at Sawyer's Landing on 1/19. A
pair of HOODED MERGANSERS, unusual in salt water, at the south end of
HMSC Nature Trail on 12/27 and 29 (JGr) and 3 pairs at mouth of King
Slough on 1/9 (BLl) suggested large amounts of fresh water entering the
bay.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.5 RAPTORS - SHOREBIRDS
An OSPREY flew over YBSJ on 1/4 (TaB), and another flew over Newport
Safeway on 1/15 (CP), perhaps evaluating the fish counter. TrB spotted a
distant WHITE-TAILED KITE over Hidden Valley on 1/15. On 1/1, a
COOPER'S HAWK circled over the SE corner of Devil's Lake (PS).
The ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK frequenting Yaquina Head through December was
harassed on 12/12 by the AMERICAN KESTREL present throughout the period
(BLM). Another AMERICAN KESTREL perched along Hwy 20 barely west of the
Lincoln County line 1/15 (JS, SSi, TrB). On 11/1, a MERLIN flew swiftly
over Wandemere (RC).
A PEREGRINE FALCON fed on a kill on the large rock off Devil's
Punchbowl SP on 1/5 (MR). Others were at YBSJ on 1/4 (TaB), near Moolack
Beach on 1/2 (MR), Yachats on 1/15 (PV, MC) and Yaquina Head on 5
December dates (BLM).
BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS flock in winter; 15 gathered at Depoe Bay on
1/1 (PS) and 14 at both Boiler Bay (PP) and Depoe Bay (TaB) on 1/4. DT
found a ROCK SANDPIPER at YBSJ on 12/30, and PS found one at Depoe Bay on
1/1. At least 25 COMMON SNIPES were in the ponds across from Logsden
Store on 1/6 (BL). Eckman Lake hosted 60 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS on
12/26 (RW).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.6 GULLS - SHRIKE
51 adult COMMON MURRES and 18 chicks were found dead along 4.6 miles
of beach near Thiel Creek in December (B&SLo, LO). Rafts of 1000 or more
were off Yaquina Head on 12/30&31 (BLM), and 2700 were off Seal Rock on
1/15 (KM). Single PIGEON GUILLEMOTS were at Boiler Bay on 1/1, 1/4, and
1/10 (PS, PP). At least 350 ANCIENT MURRELETS flew south off Boiler Bay
on 12/30 in tight, fast-moving strings (DT).
An ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD frequented D&BM's Waldport feeder almost daily
throughout the period.
1 NORTHERN FLICKER yellow/red intergrade was at HMSC, 6 Jan (MR),
and another was at Wandemere on 1/11 Jan (RC). Hidden Valley rewarded
TrB, JS, and SSi with a woodpecker grand slam - DOWNY, HAIRY, and
PILEATED WOODPECKERS and NORTHERN FLICKER.
CP located a NORTHERN SHRIKE in Hidden Valley on 1/6, probably the
same one identified in the 12/30 YBCBC.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.7 CHICKADEES - BLACKBIRDS
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES were at South Beach on 1/7 (MR), and south
Waldport on 1/20 (JW). A ROCK WREN picked insects off the walls at the
US Coast Guard Air Facility, Newport, throughout December and was last
observed on 12/30 (JMe). A HERMIT THRUSH was 2 mi south of Waldport on
1/1; another was at Sandpiper Village on 1/3 (JGr). SSc wonders why a
female VARIED THRUSH hit her Neskowin (Tillamook County) window on 1/8 in
the pre-dawn rainy darkness. Ideas, anyone?
JGr saw a PALM WARBLER at HMSC on 1/8. An early male
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER visited Coquille Point on 1/4 (BLl, JMa), and a
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW frequented JMa&LM's Coquille Point feeder through at
least 1/18. CP saw the season's first WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at his
Toledo feeder on 1/20.
OBSERVERS: Tanya Bray (TaB), Trent Bray (TrB), Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, Rebecca Cheek,
Marcia Cutler, Pat Dickey, Joel Geier (JGe), Jill Grover (JGr),
Wayne Hoffman, David Irons, Bob Llewellyn (BLl), Sally Lockyear (SaL),
Bob (BLo) & Shirley (SLo) Loeffel, Roy Lowe, Linda & John (JMa) MacKown,
Kathy Merrifield, Joe Metzler (JMe), Dawson & Bobby Mohler, Laimons Osis,
Chuck Philo, Phil Pickering, Mark "Rudi" Rudolph, Shirley Schwartz (SSc),
Jamie Simmons, Sarah Simmons (SSi), Paul Sullivan, David Tracey,
Ruth Warren, Paula Vanderheul.
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01.8 BIRD FIELD NOTES from the February 2001 Sandpiper 22(2)
by Kathy Merrifield
Comments in this column about abundance or seasonality refer to
LINCOLN COUNTY only.
Abbreviations and some Lincoln Co. site locations: Beaver
Creek=creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park, Coquille Point=SE
Corner of Sally's Bend along Yaquina Bay Road, Eckman Lake=lake just east
of Waldport along Hwy 34, HMSC=Hatfield Marine Science Center, Idaho
Flats=large embayment just east of the HMSC, Ollala Lake=reservoir along
West Ollala Creek 4 miles north of Toledo, Ona Beach=state park about 6.6
mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along Hwy 101, Sally's Bend=large
embayment east of the LNG tank at Yaquina Bay, Ten Mile Creek=creek along
coast just south of Lane County line, Thiel Creek=creek about 3.5 mi
south of Yaquina Bay bridge, Thornton Creek=creek between Toledo and
Eddyville, Tidewater=about 8 mi east of Waldport, Wandemere=about 0.5 mi
north of Ona Beach along Hwy 101, YBSJ=Yaquina Bay South Jetty.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.9 CORRECTION TO LAST MONTH'S FIELD NOTES
In the January 2001 Field notes, the listing of sooty shearwaters
and murres during the dead bird walk at Thiel Creek was the field notes
editor's error; no shearwaters or murres were seen in the dead bird walk
during December.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.10 VALUING THE COMMON
Please don't fear that your sightings are too mundane to submit.
Because of limited space, not all records can be published in The
Sandpiper, but all WILL become part of the Birds of Lincoln County
project. Records of the common are at least as important as records of
the rare. Keep those cards and letters coming, folks.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.11 2000 BEACHED BIRD REPORT
Upon death, all organisms contribute to the great integrated
ecosystem of our planet, but the beached birds along 4.6 miles of beach
near Thiel Creek play an additional role in death: their bodies
contribute to the greater body of Lincoln County ornithological knowledge
by indicating numbers, condition, and distribution of birds still living.
Birds other than murre chicks totaled 312 in 2000, the fourth low
year in a row and the lowest since 1985. NORTHERN FULMARS were the most
abundant species, totalling 119, present every month but June, and
peaking in November and December. Adult COMMON MURRES totaled 51. The
comparatively low count of 18 COMMON MURRE chicks may reflect low ocean
mortality or low chick production, the latter perhaps due to BALD EAGLE
disturbance at nearby rookeries.
Next in abundance were adult WESTERN GULLS (18), SOOTY SHEARWATERS
(14), adult RHINOCEROS AUKLETS (13, low compared to previous years), and
WESTERN GREBES (9). The 2 CASSIN'S AUKLETS were the lowest count on
record; other alcid counts were also low.
Dead birds lack the charm of their living counterparts, except to
parasitologists. This is yet another reason to appreciate the dedication
of B&SL and LO for their 23rd year of tireless work on this valuable data
set.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.12 LOONS - HERONS
RED-THROATED LOON numbers during PP's Boiler Bay 6 seawatches on
1/25, 1/29, 2/2, 2/5, 2/18, and 2/21 ranged from 12 on 1/29 to 200,
mostly flying south, on 2/18. Some of the 120 RED-THROATED LOONS
inciting a feeding flock at Seal Rock on 2/18 sported the black bills of
breeding plumage (KM). From 1 to 12 PACIFIC LOONS frequented Boiler Bay
during PP's seawatches.
WESTERN GREBE numbers at Boiler Bay peaked at 140 on 2/18 (PP).
From 4 to 7 EARED GREBES swam in Sally's Bend on 1/26 and 1/28 (HH, KM),
and 2 of 4 there performed part of their courtship ritual on 2/18 (KM).
NORTHERN FULMAR numbers in PP's Boiler Bay seawatches peaked on
2/18, when at least 200 flew in both directions; 10 were found dead
during January near Thiel Creek (B&SL, LO). One FORK-TAILED
STORM-PETREL was found dead along the same stretch (B&SL, LO).
A BROWN PELICAN flew past Colony Rock at Yaquina Head on 1/19 (BLM),
and one visited Boiler Bay on 2/5 (PP).
BRANDT'S CORMORANTS with breeding plumes were first seen at YBSJ on
2/11 (KM) and at Boiler Bay on 2/18 (PP). At least half of the 25
PELAGIC CORMORANTS at Boiler Bay on 2/5 showed white on their rumps (PP).
A DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT flew over the Yaquina Head Lighthouse parking
lot (BLM); this is usually the only cormorant species that flies over
land.
2 GREAT EGRETS were in the SE corner of Alsea Bay on 1/28, and 5
were there on 2/11 (KM).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.13 WATERFOWL
133 BRANT slurped eelgrass in Sally's Bend at low tide on 2/18 (KM).
25 scaup sp. flew north off Boiler Bay on 2/5 (PP). 3 REDHEADS were in
Sally's Bend on 1/26 and 1/28 (HH, KM), and a male was in Eckman Lake on
2/11 (KM).
Lone LONG-TAILED DUCKS were off Ten Mile Creek on 1/24 (KA), Seal
Rock on 1/28 (KM), Boiler Bay on 2/2 (PP), and YBSJ on 2/4 (JC).
1 HARLEQUIN DUCK was at YBSJ on 1/26 (HH), up to 5 surfed off Seal
Rock on 1/26, 1/28, and 2/18 (HH, KM), and 4 were off Ten Mile Creek on
1/4 (KA).
About 35 BLACK SCOTERS were off Ten Mile Creek on 1/24 (KA), and
35 flew south off Boiler Bay on 2/2 (PP).
Sharp-eyed HH spotted a female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE in Sally's Bend on
1/26; at least 12 of both sexes created a peaceful early morning scene
in Netarts Bay (Tillamook County) on 1/31 (B&SL).
2 male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER "saluted" to 2 females in Sally's Bend
on 2/18 (KM). Saluting is part of the courtship ritual, which is begun
in late winter.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.14 HAWKS
NH saw one OSPREY and heard another at Olalla Lake on 2/12. On 2/5
at Boiler Bay, PP watched one of the local adult BALD EAGLES make several
passes at a flying light-morph NORTHERN FULMAR just beyond the kelp; the
eagle appeared to be trying to grab the fulmar or knock it down and
nearly made contact a couple of times despite the fulmar's skilled
evasion. BALD EAGLES have visited Tidewater only within the last 2 years
and then rarely; P&BW saw one on 2/13. Perhaps the BALD EAGLE JT saw at
Ona Beach on 2/2 will nest there.
A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK allowed RC a quick glimpse in her Wandemere
yard on 2/15. "About once a week I suspect such a presence when the jays
are noisily mobbing some invisible threat in the dense pines by the drive
or when I find a pathetic scattering of junco feathers under a feeder,"
she writes. Oh, well, I suppose we all have to eat.
PL noted a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK at Hwy 101 MP 158 near Yachats on
1/30. On 2/6, a pair of RED-TAILED HAWKS was "fooling around" over
Yachats - flying around, calling, circling, and diving while remaining
very close to each other (BB), suggesting early breeding cycle pair-
maintenance behavior described in Vol. 5 of R. S. Palmer's 1988 Handbook
of North American Birds. A RED-TAILED HAWK at Yaquina Head for much of
January was joined by a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK between 1/17 and 1/25 (BLM).
A PEREGRINE FALCON during 3 January days and an AMERICAN KESTREL
during most of the month completed the Yaquina Head hawk compliment
(BLM). JCa watched a PEREGRINE FALCON harass COMMON RAVENS at YBSJ on
2/4.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.15 SHOREBIRDS - ALCIDS
A ROCK SANDPIPER at YBSJ accompanied surfbirds and turnstones on 2/4
(JCa). SANDERLINGS were reported along the outer rocky coast at Yachats
on 1/28, (AR), Seal Rock on 2/11, (KM), and Boiler Bay on 2/21 (PP). A
lone GREATER YELLOWLEGS on 1/28 and 8 on 2/11 foraging in Eckman Lake was
joined by 73 to 80 DOWITCHER sp. on both dates (KM). 5 COMMON SNIPES
along in pasture pond along the Yachats River 5 miles inland rendered
KM's 2/18 snipe hunt a success.
PP counted 15 or fewer MEW GULLS on each seawatch day except on
1/29, when at least 300 flew south; CALIFORNIA GULLS, HERRING GULLS, and
THAYER'S GULLS continued there in very low numbers throughout the period.
PP also noted from 40 to at least 150 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES on 1/29,
2/2, 2/5, and 2/18; most on 1/29 and 2/18 flew south. 22 BLACK-LEGGED
KITTIWAKES circled above RED-THROATED LOONS and COMMON MURRES forming a
feeding flock at Seal Rock on 2/18 (KM). 1 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was
found dead on the beach near Thiel Creek in January (B&SL, LO).
COMMON MURRES in breeding plumage made an early landing at Yaquina
Head on 1/25 and remained through 1/26 (JW of BLM). The percentage of
breeding plumage among COMMON MURRES at Boiler Bay increased from 60 to
90% through the period; numbers peaked at least 4000 on 2/5, and most
flew south on and after that date (PP). 1 murre was found dead on the
beach near Thiel Creek in Jan (B&SL, LO).
At YBSJ, a PIGEON GUILLEMOT was in winter plumage on 2/4 (JCa), and
another there on 2/11 exhibited the characteristic dark crown and nape of
a juvenile (KM). At Boiler Bay, PP counted 9 ANCIENT MURRELETS on 2/18
and 1 on 2/21; 130 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS on 2/18 and 94 on 2/21 flew south,
and a CASSIN'S AUKLET visited on 2/18.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.16 PIGEONS - WOODPECKERS
The season's first BAND-TAILED PIGEON came to BB's Yachats feeder on
2/3.
On 1/24, a male ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD frequenting RC's feeder all
winter sang and allowed a female to visit without attack, both for the
first time. ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS were also reported at Yachats from 2/1
to 2/12 (BB, J&JG), Coquille Point on 2/16 (J&LM, RB), and throughout the
period at D&BM's Waldport feeder. The first male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD at
Tidewater appeared on 2/4; a second arrived on 2/5, and the two started
fighting on 2/6 (J&KC).
The resident yellow-shafted intergrade NORTHERN FLICKER remained at
RC's Wandemere feeder through 2/22. A pair of HAIRY WOODPECKERS visited
Tidewater on 2/18 (BW).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.17 VIREOS - WAXWINGS
HUTTON'S VIREOS began singing along Beaver Creek on 2/18 (EH).
A RAVEN uttered its "knocking" call as it flew over D&BM's Waldport
yard, and as spring approaches, RAVENS also emit their territorial
"whining" call there. A GRAY JAY perched in a bare mountain ash happily
ate suet until displaced by STELLAR'S JAYS in Neskowin (Tillamook Co.) on
1/20 (SS).
WRENTITS have lived in EH's yard near Idaho Flats again this year,
now that wax myrtles he planted provide sufficient cover.
The most recent MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES were reported on 1/22 in south
Newport (SM) and south Waldport on 1/29 (JW). BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES
were pairing up on 2/7 at Tidewater, but CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES were
still in groups (J&KC). RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES are somewhat irregularly
irruptive (RB). They were reported in Waldport on 1/19 (D&BM), Tidewater
on 2/5 (J&KC), and Yachats on 2/14 (J&JG).
DF, CP, RC, and WN, along with JM, the pioneering rock-wrenner,
finally got a good look at the ROCK WREN at the Coast Guard Air Facility,
Newport Airport on 1/28. It foraged for insects on the ground around the
perimeter of the building and then checked out the helicopter and
equipment inside the hangar before flying up for a thorough search of the
rafters (RC).
DIPPERS have been singing along Beaver Creek as of 2/11; salmon are
spawning, so there are probably quite a few eggs to eat (EH).
Tidewater experienced a huge influx of AMERICAN ROBINS on 2/18 (BW),
and robins were also moving through Wandemere as of 2/22 (RC). VARIED
THRUSHES loved eating sunflower chips at Tidewater on 2/7 (J&KC), and
D&BM enjoyed their near-annual VARIED THRUSH from 1/10 through at least
1/15 at their Waldport feeder. A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was observed on
2/18 and 2/19 along Thornton Creek Road (DF).
EUROPEAN STARLINGS sang VARIED THRUSH songs at Wandemere for RC, who
has noticed with other species' calls that starlings' imitations occur
about the time the real thing is expected. A CEDAR WAXWING joined
starlings in Yachats on 2/4 (BB).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.18 WARBLERS - FINCHES
Single PALM WARBLERS were spotted at HMSC on 1/6 (KA) and 2/9 (DM).
An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER visited EH's South Beach house near Idaho Flats
on 1/9. TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS love J&KC's peanut butter feeder at
Tidewater, where they feasted on 2/7. Single TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS were
also in D&BM's Waldport yard on 2/15 and joined a kinglet flock at
Tidewater on 2/18 (BW). It's always interesting to see what turns up in
those winter flocks.
Cassius the CLAY-COLORED SPARROW continued at Coquille Point through
2/16 (J&LM), where a Pink-sided DARK-EYED JUNCO was also noted (RB;
A&AS).
BLM staff noted a WESTERN MEADOWLARK at Yaquina Head on 1/6.
Large flocks of PINE SISKINS were active in trees but not feeders
near Idaho Flats and in Tidewater as of 2/18 (EH, BW), but increasing
numbers found feeders in Waldport by 1/31 (D&BM) and Wandemere by 2/12,
where, by 2/22, 80 of these tiny birds were enough to intimidate jays and
starlings (RC). A few AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, the siskins' escorts,
arrived at Wandemere on 2/2, and numbers increased thereafter (RC). Last
and perhaps rarest, a COMMON REDPOLL joined HOUSE FINCHES at Tidewater on
2/22 (J&KC).
OBSERVERS: Kama Almasi, Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area,
Jim Carlson (JCa), Rebecca Cheek, Jorrie and Ken Ciotti, Darrel Faxon,
James and Janice Gerdemann, Hendrik Herlyn, Neil Holcomb, Eric Horvath,
Pete Lawson, Bob and Shirley Loeffel, Sue Martin, Dave Mellinger,
John and Linda MacKown, Kathy Merrifield, Joe Metzler,
Dawson and Bobby Mohler, Walt Nelson, Laimons Osis, Chuck Philo,
Phil Pickering, Alan Reid, Alan and Anna Schmierer (A&AS),
Shirley Schwartz, Jim Thielen, Jean Weakland, Jennifer Weiss (BLM),
Bunny and Pat Wright.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
01.19 BIRD FIELD NOTES from the March 2001 Sandpiper 22(3)
by Kathy Merrifield
Comments in this column about abundance or seasonality refer to
LINCOLN COUNTY only.
Abbreviations and some Lincoln Co. site locations: Agate
Beach=beach south of Yaquina Head; Beaver Creek Marsh=marsh just east of
Hwy 101 managed by Wetlands Conservancy, Eckman Lake=lake just east of
Waldport along Hwy 34, Eckman Slough=slough between Alsea Bay and Eckman
Lake, HMSC=Hatfield Marine Science Center, Hidden Valley=valley between
Newport and Toledo accessible by downward road at mile 11.9 along north
Yaquina Bay Road, Newport Heights=1 mile east of downtown Newport, Port
Dock=series of docks along Newport Bayfront, Thiel Creek=creek about
3.5 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge, Thornton Creek=creek between Toledo and
Eddyville, Tidewater=about 8 mi east of Waldport, Wandemere=about 0.5 mi
north of Ona Beach along Hwy 101, Wecoma Dock=dock north of HMSC parking
lot, YBSJ=Yaquina Bay South Jetty.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.20 LOONS THROUGH HERONS
PP seawatched at Boiler Bay for an average of 1.1 hours on each of
10 days from 2/23 through 3/19: RED-THROATED LOON numbers peaked at over
100 on 3/2, and PACIFIC LOON numbers were highest on 3/1 and 3/2, when at
least 10 were present. Some COMMON LOONS at YBSJ were in or near
breeding plumage on 3/7 and 3/11, and most others are transitional (PK,
KM); at least 20 were in the Yaquina River from the bar to the port dock
on 3/17 (TR). A YELLOW-BILLED LOON first spotted at YBSJ by CP on 3/5
granted good views while it preened (DP, AS, and CP); one was also at
YBSJ on 3/15 (DS) and 3/19 (CP).
On 3/8, 2 EARED GREBES joined a mixed flock in Sally's Bend, and
another was in Idaho Flats (HH, JS); 2 in Sally's Bend on 3/18 and 2 of 3
PIED-BILLED GREBES in Eckman Lake on 3/11 were in breeding plumage (KM).
A RED-NECKED GREBE at YBSJ had developed breeding plumage by 3/8 (PK),
and most of the 50 or so in the Yaquina River from bar to port dock 3/17
were transitional (TR). At Boiler Bay, WESTERN GREBE numbers peaked at
50 on 2/25 and 2/26 (PP).
NORTHERN FULMARS were present on 7 of PP's 10 Boiler Bay seawatching
days, peaking at 25 on 3/2, the same day a SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER
appeared.
PP noted a slow trickle of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, mostly singles
and pairs, flying north over his Lincoln City house from about 3/12-16.
1 BRANDT'S CORMORANT was the only bird other than 3 large gulls found
along 4.6 miles of beach near Thiel Creek during February; this ties the
lowest month on record, which was set a year ago (B&SLo, LO).
On 2/23, 2 GREAT BLUE HERONS flew north 1/4 mile off Boiler Bay at
500 ft (PP). Beaver Creek Marsh hosted a GREAT EGRET ON 3/17.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.21 WATERFOWL
DF first heard and identified and then saw two TRUMPETER SWANS
flying north over Seal Rock on 3/11. 12 BRANT flew north off Boiler Bay
on 3/2, and 4 followed on 3/13 (PP). 175 BRANT were in Sally's Bend and
Idaho Flats on 2/28 (JF), TR counted somewhat fewer than 200 in outer
Yaquina Bay on 3/17, and 145 in Sally's Bend on 3/18 pecked eelgrass from
shallow water (KM).
A WOOD DUCK swam across the Alsea River at Tidewater on 3/14 (P&BW).
Large flocks of AMERICAN WIGEONS and NORTHERN PINTAILS remained at Idaho
Flats as of 3/7 (PK). On 3/11, a flock of 35 GREATER SCAUP flew north
off Seal Rock, and during 7 5-min watches spanning 2.5 hours, 302/hour
flew north (KM).
Single LONG-TAILED DUCKS joined a large mixed-species raft at
Sally's Bend on 3/8 and 3/11 (HH, JS, DD and DP, and a female was in
Idaho Flats on 3/15 (DS). From 8 to 10 HARLEQUIN DUCKS courted at Seal
Rock on 2/25 and 3/11 (KM), and up to 7 provided classic views at YBSJ on
3/7, 3/8, and 3/18 (PK, HH, JS, MR).
At Boiler Bay, BLACK SCOTER numbers peaked at 15 on 3/2, and
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS peaked at over 600 and SURF SCOTERS at over 800 on
3/1. During 7 5-min watches spanning 2.5 hours, 21 scoter spp./hour flew
north on 2/25, and 739/hr flew north on 3/11 (KM). 2 male BARROW'S
GOLDENEYES joined COMMON GOLDENEYES at Sallys' Bend on 3/11 (DD, DP).
Courtship activities of flocks of 3 to 6 SURF SCOTERS at YBSJ on 3/11
included the chest-lifting display, and the courtship displays of several
small groups of RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS in Sally's Bend on 3/18 involved
some things that aren't even in the book; KM's friends have stopped
asking her what she saw at the beach over the weekend.
A few HOODED MERGANSERS ventured uncharacteristically into upper
Yaquina Bay on 3/8 (HH, JS), and 13 were in south Siletz Bay on 3/10
(EN).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.22 DIURNAL RAPTORS
CP's birdwatching dog PuP saw the first reported TURKEY VULTURE
flying high over their Toledo home on 2/23: CP was out in the yard when
PuP started acting strangely and looking straight up. PuP has previously
concentrated on finding owls. Single TURKEY VULTURES soared over the
north shore of Yaquina Bay on 3/5 (WH) and over Hidden Valley on 3/8
where a WHITE-TAILED KITE also hovered (HH, JS). 2 TURKEY VULTURES
soared over Wecoma Dock on 3/14 (SK) and 2 over Tidewater on 3/20 (P&BW).
3 adult BALD EAGLES flew together into the wind over Agate Beach on
3/8 (BL), an adult frequented the Yachats bar on 3/8, 9, and 11 (BB), an
immature on 3/16 at Boiler Bay may be progeny of the local pair (PP), and
one or more were sporadically present throughout February at Yaquina Head
(BLM).
AMERICAN CROWS chased a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK in J&KC's Tidewater yard
on 2/23: it had a crow on the ground before about 12 crows drove the hawk
to the ground. After J&KC disrupted, the hawk chirped as it finally was
able to fly away. On 3/12, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK on a post in BLo's yard
preened, spread its tail, looked directly into BLo's binoculars, showing
a gold inverted triangle between its eyes, and flew away. Songbirds
returned within an hour. BLo posted this posted hawk over the internet.
A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK surprised RC during feeder rounds in Wandemere on
3/19.
1 to 2 AMERICAN KESTRELS were sporadically present throughout
February at Yaquina Head (BLM).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.23 GROUSE - GULLS
WH flushed a probable BLUE GROUSE along Cook Creek, a tributary of
Yaquina River, above Toledo on 3/5.
Very few AMERICAN COOTS have been reported this winter; is this a
bad coot year? A VIRGINIA RAIL called from Beaver Creek Marsh on 3/17
(BT, P&JH).
1 to 2 ROCK SANDPIPERS joined flocks of SURFBIRDS and
BLACK TURNSTONES at YBSJ on 2/28 (JF) and 3/8 (HH). At least 1 WILLET
was in the Bayfront vicinity on 3/17 (P&JH, TR). A COMMON SNIPE in
Eckman Slough on 2/25 demonstrated its camouflage (KM).
On 3/2, at least 200 MEW GULLS flew north off Boiler Bay; a maximum
of 40 occurred on other seawatch days (PP). On the afternoons of 3/12
and 3/13, a continuous parade of squadrons of mostly adult
CALIFORNIA GULLS and some large gulls flew north above the D River
Wayside beach, peaking at 50/minute on 3/13. Off Boiler Bay on 2/23,
200 WESTERN GULLS flew north, and on 3/2, at least 600 flew south;
80 GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS flew south on 2/23 and at least 300 followed on
3/2 (PP).
An adult GLAUCOUS GULL joined about 10 WESTERN GULLS in Waldport
Heights on 3/10 (SL). A 3rd winter GLAUCOUS GULL was chummed to the
Sally's Bend dock on 3/17 (GG, TS), and another displayed all its plumage
perfectly while selecting just the right tidal channel in Idaho Flats on
3/18 (KM). A 2nd winter GLAUCOUS GULL finialed a light pole under the
Yaquina Bay bridge on 3/17 (MR), and a first winter GLAUCOUS GULL was at
the Nye Beach turnaround in Newport on 3/20 (WH). HERRING GULL numbers
at Boiler Bay peaked on 3/1, when at least 100 flew north (PP). 1 to 2
THAYER'S GULLS visited Boiler Bay on 2/25 and 3/1 (PP).
At least 1500 adult BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES flew north off Boiler
Bay on 2/25, at least 700 (mostly adults) flew south on 2/26; these
flights may relate to weather fronts approaching our coast from the Gulf
of Alaska. At least 3000 (20% 1st winter) flew south on 3/2 (PP). 220
off Yachats on 2/25 apparently attempted northward flight, but many were
blown southward (KM). In the Yachats River mouth, 3 were present on
2/25, 15 on 3/8, 11 on 3/11, and "several" on 3/17 (P&JH, SL, KM, BT).
On 3.8, SL noted that they kept to the flock perimeter and moved around
more often than other gulls. As always, short folks have to look out for
themselves.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.24 ALCIDS-HUMMINGBIRDS
COMMON MURRE numbers at Boiler Bay peaked on 3/13, when at least
1000 flew north (PP). COMMON MURRES were often present on breeding rocks
at Yaquina Head when eagles were not (JW of BLM).
3 PIGEON GUILLEMOTS in breeding plumage were at YBSJ on 3/7 (PK); on
3/8, 6-8 at YBSJ were in breeding plumage and 2 were in winter plumage
(HH, JS). 2 in breeding plumage were at Boiler Bay on 3/8, and up to 20
were present thereafter (PP). At least 50 were in Yaquina Bay from the
bar to the port dock on 3/17 (TR).
A pair of MARBLED MURRELETS flew south off Boiler Bay on 2/25, and
6 were present on 2/26; an ANCIENT MURRELET visited on 3/2 (PP).
RHINOCEROS AUKLETS first appeared at Boiler Bay on 2/23; 46 flew south on
3/2, and 28 flew north on 3/5 (PP).
BAND-TAILED PIGEONS visited RC's Wandemere feeder on 3/2 and BB's
Yachats feeder daily as of 3/4.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS appeared in WH's South Beach yard on 2/26,
Eckman Lake on 3/3 (RL), P&BW's Tidewater feeder on 3/4, J&KC's Tidewater
feeder on 3/8, D&BM's Waldport home on 3/11, BB's Yachats yard on 3/12,
Wandemere on 3/16 (RC), and Newport Heights on 3/19 (M&PL). On 3/21,
when 15 males were visible from J&KC's Tidewater home, one was going to
spend the night in a hanging fuchsia until JC moved it.
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS were present as of 3/7 in BB's Yachats yard and
through 3/15 at D&BM's Waldport home.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.25 WOODPECKERS - SPARROWS
The intergrade NORTHERN FLICKER remained at Wandemere through 3/19
(RC). NORTHERN FLICKERS are visiting D&BM's Waldport feeders more
frequently in March.
A SAY'S PHOEBE dropped in at Yaquina Head on 2/22 (BLM).
Primaries with white bases gave lent a dramatic air to an
AMERICAN CROW at Waldport on 3/17 (BT, P&JH).
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS flew over Wandemere on 3/10 (RC). Several
TREE SWALLOWS appeared at Beaver Creek Marsh on 3/17 (BT, P&JH), and two
at Tidewater were mating (J&KC).
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES are nesting somewhere near SK's Newport
home: on 3/14, one flew onto his porch to pick up hair tufts from the
shedding cat.
The TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was still being seen in the orchard
0.4 miles north of Hwy 20 along Thornton Creek Road on 3/4 (DF). A
VARIED THRUSH appeared 3 times in early March at D&BM's Waldport feeder.
A PALM WARBLER was 100 yards into the HMSC nature trail on 3/15
(DS). A female WILSON'S WARBLER was present at Newport Heights as of
3/19 (M&PL).
Migrant WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS typically arrive during late March;
they were first noted at Yaquina Head on 2/23 (BLM) and at Tidewater on
3/10 (BW) and started singing in Wandemere on 3/16 (RC). However, some
winter: WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS at D&BM's Waldport feeder joined
FOX SPARROWS, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS, and SONG SPARROWS nearly every day
from 2/16 through 3/15. Cassius the CLAY-COLORED SPARROW continues at
J&LM's feeder near the east side of Sally's Bend, 3/16, and it was seen
by BT, P&JH, MM, and TR on 3/17.
DARK-EYED JUNCO songs were first heard in Wandemere on 2/24 (RC). A
Canadian Rockies Slate-colored DARK-EYED JUNCO has visited SL's Yachats
feeder daily since January.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.26 BLACKBIRDS - FINCHES
1 - 3 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were sporadically present throughout
February at Yaquina Head, and one sang on 2/18 (BLM).
Dead RED CROSSBILLS were at BB's Yachats home on 3/5; a pair of live
ones visited on 3/8, and on 3/9, 3 pairs were near but not at her feeder;
a pair was at Newport Heights as of 3/19 (M&PL).
Mostly female AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES arrived at BB's Yachats home on
3/7, and a male in winter plumage visited Tidewater on 3/18. PINE SISKIN
activity has slowed in Wandemere, but has been going strong at the
Aquarium and Lincoln County Fairgrounds; maybe they use feeders now
because they have eaten most of the alder (RC). Siskins also feasted on
hemlock seeds at Tidewater in early March (J&KC), strafed SK's Newport
black sunflower seed feeder on 3/10-3/11, invaded P&BW's Tidewater
thistle feeders, and empty D&BM's Waldport sunflower tubes within a few
hours.
EVENING GROSBEAKS appeared at Tidewater on 3/6 (PW, J&KC).
OBSERVERS: Betty Bahn, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) at Yaquina
Head Outstanding Natural Area, Rebecca Cheek, Jorrie and Ken Ciotti,
Don DeWitt, Darrel Faxon, Jeffrey Fleischer, Greg Gilson,
Patricia and Jeff Harding (P&JH), Hendrik Herlyn, Wayne Hoffman,
Philip Kline, Steve Kupillas, Mary and Paul Land (M&PL), Bob Llewellyn,
Sally Lockyear, Bob and Shirley Loeffel (B&SLo), Roy Lowe,
John and Linda MacKown, Kathy Merrifield, Marilyn Miller,
Dawson and Bobby Mohler, Eric Nelson, Laimons Osis, Diane Pettey,
Chuck Philo & Pup Philo (PuP), Phil Pickering, Mitch Ratzlaff,
Tim Rodenkirk, Al Schmierer, Tim Shelmerdine, David Smith,
Bill Thackaberry, Jennifer Weiss of BLM, Pat and Bunny Wright.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
01.27 BIRD FIELD NOTES from the April 2001 Sandpiper 22(4)
by Kathy Merrifield
Comments in this column about abundance or seasonality refer to
LINCOLN COUNTY only.
Abbreviations and some Lincoln Co. site locations: Bayshore
Beach=ocean beach along north Alsea Bay Spit, Beaver Creek=creek flowing
through Ona Beach State Park, Coquille Point=SE Corner of Sally's Bend,
Eckman Lake=lake just east of Waldport along Hwy 34, HMSC=Hatfield Marine
Science Center, Idaho Flats=large embayment just east of the HMSC, Mike
Miller Park=county park on east side of Hwy 101 in south Beach, Newport
Heights=1 mile east of downtown Newport, NWR=National Wildlife Refuge,
Sallys Bend=large embayment east of the LNG tank at Yaquina Bay,
Tidewater=about 8 mi east of Waldport, Wandemere=about 0.5 mi north of
Ona Beach along Hwy 101, YBSJ=Yaquina Bay South Jetty, Yaquina John
Point=point near Hwy 101 and just south of Waldport.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.28 LOONS THROUGH TUBENOSES
PP seawatched an average of 1.75 hrs from Boiler Bay on 12 days
during the reporting period. PP's RED-THROATED LOON numbers ranged from
20 on 4/12 to over 1500 on 4/6; PACIFIC LOON numbers ranged from 2 on
4/11 to over 250 on 4/16, and COMMON LOON numbers ranged from 1 on 3/28
and 3/30 to 150 on 4/12, all flying north. 1 YELLOW-BILLED LOON flew
south alone on 4/16.
Loon calls and courtship displays are rarely observed in Oregon; one
COMMON LOON called from YBSJ on 4/15 (DT), and 2 called and displayed in
Sally's Bend on 4/8 (KM).
Small grebes have developed breeding plumage. Up to 5 EARED GREBES
remained at Sally's Bend through 4/8 (HH, KM); dozens of HORNED GREBES
were there on 4/1 (SS, SR, HH, AC). RED-NECKED GREBE pairs flew north
off Boiler Bay on 4/16 and 4/17 (PP), and one was at YBSJ on 3/31 (JS).
PP's Boiler Bay WESTERN GREBE numbers ranged from 1 on 4/10 to 40 on
4/12. A CLARK'S GREBE joined many Westerns at Sally's Bend on 4/1 (HH).
Tubenoses predominated in B&SLo and LO's March beached bird walks
along 4.6 miles of beach near Thiel Creek; 28 dead NORTHERN FULMARS and
1 FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL were found along 4.6 miles of beach near Thiel
Creek during March (B&SLo, LO). LO picked up 8 of them in a half mile of
beach on 3/16, perhaps due to tidal accumulation and prolonged west wind.
Also present were 2 large gulls, 1 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, 1 COMMON
MURRE, 1 RHINOCEROS AUKLET, and 1 unidentified alcid; this ties the
lowest month on record, which was set a year ago (B&SLo, LO). On 3/28,
JG found a dead SOOTY SHEARWATER next to a banana peel at Seal Rock; both
were ripe.
Tubenose results from the Bird Guide's pelagic trips out of Newport
on 3/24 and 4/14 are below. On 3/24: 101 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES,
2 LAYSAN ALBATROSSES, 1 SHORT-TAILED
ALBATROSS, 171 NORTHERN FULMARS, 2 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, 29 SOOTY
SHEARWATERS, 3 SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATERS, 1 LEACH'S STORM-PETREL; 4/14: 1
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS, 2 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER, 1000 SOOTY SHEARWATERS.
1 BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER flew south off Boiler Bay on 4/10, single
MANX/BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS appeared there on 4/11 and 4/16, and single
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS passed on 4/5 and 4/12 (PP). PP's SOOTY
SHEARWATER numbers varied from 0 on several days to over 1500 on 4/13;
flight direction varied.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.29 PELICANS THROUGH DUCKS
On 4/8, a lone BROWN PELICAN flew south across the Yachats sunset
(SaL), and an immature flew north off Boiler Bay on 4/16 (PP).
PP's BRANDT'S CORMORANT numbers varied from 3 on 4/5 to 200 on 4/11,
with southward flight predominating; PP has noticed an annual strong
reverse migration. Several thousand PELAGIC CORMORANTS flew north off
Yachats on 4/14, according to a friend of RC. One long, undulating line
of Pelagics flew north past Wandemere on the same day, and about a dozen
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS flew north off Wandemere on 4/12 (RC).
A GREAT EGRET visited the Oregon Coast Aquarium boardwalk on 4/15
(DT).
SS, SR, HH, and AC saw 19 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE at Siletz NWR
on 4/1. 4 BRANT flew north low over the water off Boiler Bay on 3/28,
13 were there on 4/12, and 330 flying north in small flocks hugged the
water off Boiler Bay on 4/1 (PP). On 3/25, 161 BRANT tipped up to
procure eelgrass from the low tidal water of Sally's Bend, inspiring a
few WESTERN GULLS to do the same in Sally's Bend; on 4/1, 139 BRANT
remained (KM). On 4/14, about 200 Aleutian CANADA GEESE flew north over
a Newport Middle School soccer game (RL).
Dabbling ducks fly over the ocean, too: at Boiler Bay, PP saw 15
GREEN-WINGED TEAL on 4/1, and up to 400 NORTHERN PINTAILS on 6 seawatch
days. A male CINNAMON TEAL floated in Sally's Bend on 4/1 (KM). A pair
of RING-NECKED DUCKS swam in a roadside pond between Alsea Bay and Seal
Rock on 4/14 (JS).
The last reported HARLEQUIN DUCKS were a pair flying south off
Boiler Bay on 4/10 (PP). A beautiful spring-plumaged pair of
LONG-TAILED DUCKS flew south off Boiler Bay on 4/3 (PP). PP's Boiler
Bay WHITE-WINGED SCOTER numbers ranged from over 200 on 3/30 to 25 on
4/13, and SURF SCOTER numbers ranged from 80 on 4/3 to 2900 flying north
on 4/12. KM seawatched in 7 5-min periods spanning 2 to 2.5 hours off
Yachats on 3/25 and 4/8; 5 scoter sp./hour flew north on 3/25, and
81/hour flew north on 4/8.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.30 HAWKS
2 OSPREYS chirped from the dead top of an old spruce at Mike Miller
County Park on 3/25 (KM), one sat on a nest in the same tree used last
year across 101 from Bayshore Beach as last year on 4/17 (JW), and a pair
visited a Tidewater spruce on 4/19 (PW). A male NORTHERN HARRIER
escorted SaL as she ran along the HMSC Trail on 4/8.
On 3/28, PP watched one of the Boiler Bay BALD EAGLES cruise low
over the kelp to pluck a resurfacing RED-THROATED LOON off the water,
haul it up to a tree, and chow down. A cloud of feathers flew west in
the breeze. On 4/5, an adult BALD EAGLE endured a half hour of
AMERICAN CROW harassment in LH's neighbor's tree in Newport; LH heard the
swooshing of wings and rustling of branches as the eagle flew away.
WOW!!, she says; this was worth the trip outside in bare feet and t-shirt
with her camera. On 4/11, LH's lunchtime entertainment on the deck of
the SandBar in Nye Beach was a pigeon-scattering BALD EAGLE flying north.
Another BALD EAGLE visited Tidewater on 4/19 (PW).
The SHARP-SHINNED HAWK that seems to follow the PINE SISKIN flock at
RC's and WN's Wandemere feeders daily as of 4/15 whooshed past WN while
loaded down with a siskin close enough to ruffle his hair and landed 8
feet away, just in front of their dog. WN and the dog were too
astonished to move, giving the hawk time to gather itself and its meal
and dash into the trees. SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS were also south of Waldport
on 4/1 (JS) and at the Siletz gun range on 4/4 (CP)
SS gained a dramatic back-yard bird when an adult RED-TAILED HAWK
sat just a few yards from her house in Neskowin (Tillamook County) on
3/2. 2 RED-TAILED HAWKS were 8.5 miles up North Beaver Creek on 12 March
(EH).
An AMERICAN KESTREL was in Beaver Creek Valley on 4/6 (LO). A
MERLIN checked at RC's Wandemere feeders for activity as it circled on
4/3; another visited residential north Newport on 4/13 (BO).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.31 QUAILS THROUGH ALCIDS
EH's first MOUNTAIN QUAIL of spring was 8.5 miles up North Beaver
Creek on 3/12. 2 CALIFORNIA QUAIL were 3 miles up Keller Creek Road from
the picnic area, 3/25 (KM).
A GREATER YELLOWLEGS waded along the HMSC trail on 4/1 (JS), and at
least 50 were at Siletz NWR on 4/1 (SS, SR, HH, AC). A SPOTTED SANDPIPER
called from McNary Lane between Toledo and Newport on 3/31 (JS).
WHIMBRELS were first reported from Idaho Flats on 4/15 (DT); 7 flew north
off Boiler Bay on 4/16 (PP), and 7 were in Idaho Flats on 4/18 (DP).
P&JH saw about 8 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS and one LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER at
Idaho Flats on 4/14.
A COMMON SNIPE probed the Idaho Flats marsh on 3/7 (EH). CP often
sees COMMON SNIPES on log landings (cleared log-processing areas which
become muddy from heavy machinery use); he saw 2 snipes at a Siletz long
landing on 4/5. Several COMMON SNIPES were in marshy areas on the fill
between the LNG tank and Yaquina Bay Road during WH's 4/7 weed-pulling
party.
PP noted a light POMARINE JAEGER, probably an adult, at Boiler Bay
on 4/1 and single FRANKLIN'S GULLS on 3/28 and 4/6. 8.5 breeding-
plumaged adult BONAPARTE'S GULLS/hr flew south off Yachats on 4/8 (KM).
Single albino MEW GULLS, perhaps the same individual, were observed in
the HMSC area on 4/8 (CL), 4/14 (PP, P&JH), and in Sally's Bend on 4/18
(DP). PP's Boiler Bay numbers of WESTERN GULL ranged from 50 on 3/28 to
over 1000 on 4/3 and of GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL ranged from about 5 on 3/30
to 300 on 4/6; many Glaucous-wingeds were immature. A 2nd year
GLAUCOUS GULL was in Idaho Flats on 4/15 (DT), and another of unspecified
age was there on 4/18 (DP).
17 winter-plumaged BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES joined a large gull
gathering in the Yachats River Mouth on 3/19 (DF); 123/hour flew south
off Yachats on 3/25, and 226/hour flew south on 4/8 (KM). PP's Boiler
Bay BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE numbers varied from 15 on 3/28 to over 1200 on
4/3 but dwindled to 5 on 4/17.
CASPIAN TERNS at Boiler Bay numbered from 1 on 5 days to 23 on 4/11;
PP thinks many migrate a bit inland from the beach and avoid flying over
the ocean. About 50 CASPIAN TERNS flew north over the shore and highway
between Yachats and South Beach on 4/15 (WH).
Among the thousands of COMMON MURRES observed in his Boiler Bay
seawatches, PP pinpointed a melanistic individual corresponding to the
"extreme dark morph," unrecorded outside California, pictured in the
Sibley Guide; murre numbers peaked at over 1000 on 4/13, when all flew
north. PP also saw a THICK-BILLED MURRE there among the madding crowd on
4/10, and PIGEON GUILLEMOT numbers decreased from 100 on 3/30 to 12 on
4/16.
On 3/27, MARBLED MURRELETS called as they flew over SS's Neskowin
(Tillamook Co.) home along the edge of Siuslaw National Forest. Up to
13 MARBLED MURRELETS were reported at Boiler Bay from 3/30 through 4/17,
up to 30 or more CASSIN'S AUKLETS from 4/6 through 4/14, up to 120
RHINOCEROS AUKLETS from 3/30 through 4/17, and up to 2 TUFTED PUFFINS on
4/11 and 4/16 (PP). On 4/14, observers on the Bird Guide pelagic trip
were treated to 7 CASSIN'S AUKLETS, 20 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, and
1 TUFTED PUFFIN.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.32 PIGEONS THROUGH SWALLOWS
BAND-TAILED PIGEONS visited P&BW's Tidewater feeder in 4/11. The
first reported VAUX'S SWIFT flew over Eckman Lake on 3/24 (RL).
A RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD appeared in LL's Waldport yard on 2/20, making
it our earliest record this year. RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS visited
salmonberry flowers at EH's forest land 8.5 miles up North Beaver Creek
road on 3/2, as of 3/20 foraged more at red-flowering currant than at
sugar water feeders in D&BM's Waldport yard, and on 3/23 collected cotton
batting at J&KC's home 1 mi east of Eckman Lake. ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS
were at the LNG tank, Sally's Bend on 4/7 (WH), at Depoe Bay on 4/15
(DT), and at D&BM's Waldport feeder throughout the period.
A HAIRY WOODPECKER was 8.5 miles up North Beaver Creek on 3/12 (EH).
A DOWNY WOODPECKER was in EH's South Beach yard on 3/14, and a
PILEATED WOODPECKER visited there on 3/9; another called from a deep forest
hemlock along the Yachats River on 4/8 (KM). The intergrade
NORTHERN FLICKER present at Wandemere through much of the winter was last
seen 4/3 (RC).
EH noted a HUTTON'S VIREO in his South Beach yard on 3/9. An
AMERICAN CROW pair in Wandemere defending territory as of 4/14 vigorously
attacked other crows, a RED-TAILED HAWK, several TURKEY VULTURES, and a
COMMON RAVEN (RC).
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS arrived at EH's South Beach yard at dawn on
3/12, appeared on 3/22 at Tidewater (BW), and explored purple martin
houses along the HMSC trail on 3/23 (JGr); about 15 flew over McNary Lane
between Toledo and Newport and a few more were south of Waldport on
3/31(JS). TREE SWALLOWS have been 1 mile east of Eckman Lake since 3/19
(J&KC), and PuP pointed them out to CP over Toledo on 3/25; at least 15
flew over McNary Lane between Toledo and Newport on 3/31 (JS), and a few
examined bird houses in Tidewater on 4/18 (P&BW). At least
7 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS were also at McNary Lane on 3/31 (JS).
BARN SWALLOWS arrived at Waldport on 3/19 (J&KC) and outside Toledo on
4/15 (RC).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.33 WRENTITS THROUGH WARBLERS
WRENTITS were regulars as of 3/22 at Tidewater (BW), and they kept
SaL company on the 804 trail in Yachats on 4/7. 2 MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES
were still enjoying the suet and black sunflower seeds as of 3/23 at
Yaquina John Point (JW). A BROWN CREEPER crept to JW's south Waldport
yard on 3/14.
WINTER WRENS sang on 3/14 8.5 miles up North Beaver Creek (EH) and
at McNary Lane between Newport and Toledo on 4/1 (JS) and were seen
regularly as of 3/22 at Tidewater (BW). A pair of BEWICK'S WRENS was
nesting just off the HMSC nature trail as of 3/23 (JGr). The ROCK WREN
still frequented Coast Guard air facility as of mid-March (JM).
EH's South Beach yard hosted a HERMIT THRUSH in South Beach on 3/9.
The last VARIED THRUSHES were at D&BM's Waldport feeder on 3/16, in RC's
Wandemere yard as of 3/28, and singing in residential north Newport on
4/13 (BO). A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE remained along Thornton Creek Road as
of 3/23 (DF).
On 4/1, a EUROPEAN STARLING imitated a GREATER YELLOWLEGS behind the
HMSC, but SS, SR, HH, AC caught on due to the absence of any yellowlegs
in that particular pine tree.
TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS visited EH's South
Beach Yard on 3/6; an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER followed them there on 3/10
and in D&BM's Waldport yard as of 3/31; CP heard some in Toledo on 4/7,
and others sang for BO in residential north Newport on 4/12. A
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT sang for CP in Siletz on 4/8. PALM WARBLERS were
along the HMSC trail on 4/15 (P&JH) and at the HMSC in mid-April (IF).
As of 4/15, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, and
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS had arrived 1 mi E of Eckman Lake, and a
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER appeared on 4/19 (J&KC). On 4/1, distant views of
Myrtle YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS reveal a masked bird, because the dark eye
patch molts a bit ahead of the rest of the head, as noted by AC as he
observed them in partial breeding plumage behind HMSC with SS, SR, and
HH. Who was that masked bird?
D&BM have observed warblers in their Waldport yard insert their
beaks into red-flowering currant flowers but can't tell whether they are
eating nectar or insects; WILSON'S WARBLER sampled these inviting flowers
on 3/30 and 4/14.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.34 SPARROWS THROUGH WEAVER FINCHES
Cassius the CLAY-COLORED SPARROW remained at J&LM's home at Coquille
Point, Yaquina Bay, through 3/27. A few migrant SAVANNAH SPARROWS were
at Yaquina Bay on 4/1 (SS, SR, HH, AC). Numerous SAVANNAH SPARROWS and
one GRASSHOPPER SPARROW accompanied WH and associates during a 4/7 French
Broom-pulling party at the LNG tank at Sally's Bend, and one sang at HMSC
on 4/12 (BO). On 3/31 at YBSJ, JS heard several SAVANNAH SPARROWS and
saw one with extensive facial yellow; another at YBSJ on 4/14 had little
facial yellow. P&JH found a LINCOLN'S SPARROW along the HMSC trail on
4/15. GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS were south of Waldport on 4/1 (JS),
arrived in Wandemere on 4/14 (RC), flocked with WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS on
4/17 (PW), and frequented D&BM's Waldport feeder throughout the reporting
period. A VESPER SPARROW joined SAVANNAH SPARROWS at the YBSJ gull
puddle on 4/19 (AS).
A Slate-colored DARK-EYED JUNCO visited J&LM's Coquille Point home
on 3/27. Beginning on 4/16, a male DARK-EYED JUNCO alternated an attack
on his window reflection with loud singing from a nearby perch through at
least 4/18, when RC closed the blind; he and his new mate are considering
RC's adjacent Japanese garden as nesting habitat. Juncos have left
P&BW's Tidewater yard as of 4/18; maybe their windows aren't very
interesting.
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, unusual at feeders, visited P&BW's Tidewater
feeder on 4/11, and BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS arrived there on 4/18.
PURPLE FINCHES arrived at D&BM's Waldport feeder on 3/31 and at RC's
Wandemere feeder on 4/13. One HOUSE FINCH pair in D&BM's Waldport yard
plucks red-flowering currant flowers, sucks on the ovary, and spits out
the petals and sepals.
A flock of RED CROSSBILLS investigated hemlock seeds on 3/26 1 mi E
of Eckman Lake (J&KC), and they took over ML's Newport Heights bird bath,
feeder, and Douglas fir most of the week of 3/26; pairs ate black
sunflower seeds at JWe's Seal Rock feeder on 4/7 and RC's Wandemere
feeder on 4/8, and some visited residential north Newport on 4/13 (BO).
On 4/20, BW was dismissed early from jury duty but instantly shifted from
juror to witness upon arriving home to witness 8-10 RED CROSSBILLS
descend upon her Tidewater birdbath. A clue to their identity was BB's
account of two dead crossbills under her pond cover last month. This
sounds like a crime drama; will Perry Mason become involved next?
Sick-looking PINE SISKINS that fluff up, stumble, use their wings to
balance, stay on the ground near feeders, drink frequently, and sometimes
die, are exhibiting what OSU Extension is calling "fluffed disease" that
appears to be Salmonella toxicity, according to Chintimini Wildlife Rehab
Center. RB notes that feed and droppings probably mingle in the feeder
or on the ground, and the disease is spread rapidly. RB continues that
besides disinfecting the feeder, Chintimini recommends changing the
location of the feeder to avoid accumulation of droppings and seed
residue. Because these outbreaks are so hard on siskins, discontinuing
or tapering off the amount fed them after the first "fluffed" one appears
may help by encouraging them to search for natural food and not to
concentrate in large numbers at one location for too long.
PINE SISKINS arrived at JW's Yaquina John point feeder on 3/8, up to
175 continued at Wandemere through 3/28 and dwindled through 4/14 (RC),
and hordes are still eating thistle and sunflower seeds at P&BW's
Tidewater feeders as of 4/18. J&KC saw their yard's first
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH of the year 1 mi E of Eckman Lake on 4/16. A
LESSER GOLDFINCH ate sunflower seeds at D&BM's Waldport feeder on 3/21,
and one visited J&KC's feeder 1 mi E of Eckman Lake on 4/15.
HOUSE SPARROWS carried nesting material into one of the
PURPLE MARTIN boxes along the Siuslaw Bay (Lane County) docks on 4/4
(SaL). They will always be with us; maybe we should add House Sparrows
to death and taxes.
OBSERVERS: Range Bayer, Betty Bahn, Rebecca Cheek, Jorrie and Ken
Ciotti, Alan Contreras, Darrel Faxon, Ian Fleming, Joel Geier,
Jill Grover (JGr), Patricia and Jeff Harding, Louise Hemphill,
Wayne Hoffman, Eric Horvath, Mary Land, Lola Landis, Cindy Lawes,
Sally Lockyear (SaL), Bob and Shirley Loeffel (B&SLo), Roy Lowe,
John and Linda MacKown, Kathy Merrifield, Joe Metzler,
Dawson & Bobbie Mohler, Walt Nelson, Bob Olson, Laimons Osis,
Diane Pettey, Chuck and Pup Philo, Phil Pickering, Susanna Rinard,
Alan Schmierer, Shirley Schwartz, Jamie Simmons, Shawn Steinberg,
David Tracey, Jean Weakland, Jennifer Weiss (JWe) of BLM,
Pat and Bunny Wright.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
01.35 BIRD FIELD NOTES from the May 2001 Sandpiper 22(5)
by Kathy Merrifield
Comments in this column about abundance or seasonality refer to
LINCOLN COUNTY only.
Abbreviations and some Lincoln Co. site locations: Bayshore
Beach=ocean beach along north Alsea Bay Spit, Bayview Pasture=field east
of junction of Beaver Creek Road and North Alsea Bay Road, Beaver
Creek=creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park, Beaver Creek
Marsh=marsh just east of Hwy 101 managed by Wetlands Conservancy,
Coquille Point=SE Corner of Sally's Bend, Cougar Mountain=peak 6 mi east
of Lincoln City, Eckman Lake=lake just east of Waldport along Hwy 34,
HMSC=Hatfield Marine Science Center, Idaho Flats=large embayment just
east of the HMSC, Newport Heights=1 mile east of downtown Newport, Nute
Slough=freshwater slough at about mile 9.3 along north Yaquina Bay Road,
Ona Beach=state park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along Hwy
101, Sally's Bend=large embayment east of the LNG tank at Yaquina Bay,
Schooner Creek=northern tributary of Siletz Bay, Thiel Creek=creek about
3.5 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge, Tidewater=about 8 mi east of
Waldport, Wandemere=about 0.5 mi north of Ona Beach along Hwy 101,
YBNJ=Yaquina Bay North Jetty, YBSJ=Yaquina Bay South Jetty,
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.36 CORRECTION TO LAST MONTH'S FIELD NOTES
In the April 2001 field notes, the editor wrote that March 2001 was
the lowest MONTH on record in B&SL&LO's beached bird walks; this should
have read the lowest MARCH on record.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.37 LOONS - HERONS
During the May reporting period, PP seawatched an average of 1.67
hours on each of 16 days from Boiler Bay; RED-THROATED LOON numbers
varied from 1500 on 4/21 to 1 on 4/27 to 500 on 5/10, PACIFIC LOON
numbers peaked on 5/10 at 8000, and COMMON LOON numbers peaked at 100 on
5/10. 36 RED-THROATED LOONS/hour flew north of Yachats on 4/22 (KM).
COMMON LOONS called while flying over BO's Newport house on 5/15. A
YELLOW-BILLED LOON visited Boiler Bay on 5/9 (DM, CM, TJ).
PIED-BILLED GREBES remained in Beaver Creek Valley through 4/10
(LO). The latest RED-NECKED GREBE was at Boiler Bay on 5/7 (PP), and the
latest EARED GREBES wore breeding plumage on 4/28 at Sally's Bend (MC,
PV).
The Bird Guide led several pelagic trips out of Newport; their
results for tubenoses follow. On 4/22: 145 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES,
18 NORTHERN FULMARS, 720 SOOTY SHEARWATERS, 10 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS,
55 FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS, 1 LEACH'S STORM-PETREL. 5/5:
17 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES, 1 LAYSAN ALBATROSS, 8 NORTHERN FULMARS,
1 FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER, 3 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, 220 SOOTY
SHEARWATERS, 8 FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS. 5/6: 3 NORTHERN FULMARS,
206 SOOTY SHEARWATERS, 3 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS. 5/13: 80 BLACK-FOOTED
ALBATROSSES, 10 NORTHERN FULMARS, 15 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS,
200 SOOTY SHEARWATERS, 43 FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS.
B&SL and LO found 15 NORTHERN FULMARS and 1 FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL
during their April Beached Bird Walks along 4.6 miles of beach near Thiel
Creek. On 4/22, about 350 NORTHERN FULMARS/hr flew in varied directions
off Seal Rock, and during 7 5-min watches spanning 2.5 hours off Yachats,
74/hr flew south (KM). 20 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS flew off Boiler Bay on
4/21, followed by 1 on 4/28 and 2 on 5/15, and single MANX SHEARWATERS
visited on 5/9 and 5/10 (PP). SOOTY SHEARWATER numbers off Boiler Bay
reached 15,000 on 4/21 and again on 5/1 (PP). 14 FORK-TAILED
STORM-PETRELS flew off Boiler Bay on 5/1 followed by 1 on 5/10 (PP).
On 5/12, 5 BROWN PELICANS flew north past Yaquina Head (DPi); 6 on
5/18 and 1 on 5/19 flew past Boiler Bay (PP). On 4/21, YB&NFT discovered
a GREEN HERON at the Ona Beach Log Pond and 3 GREAT EGRETS among
GREAT BLUE HERONS in Beaver Creek Valley. A juvenile
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON was reported over Idaho Flats on 5/17 (PK).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.38 WATERFOWL
25 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were at the Beaver Creek Valley
Grange Hall on 4/10 (LO), and a northbound flock flew over Thornton Creek
on 4/18 (DF). 900 possible White-fronteds and 1 SNOW GOOSE flew over
Siletz on 4/25 (CP), 50 flew north over the Boiler Bay parking lot on
4/27 (PP), 81 joined about 150 CANADA GEESE in Bayview Pasture on 5/5
(JS), and late single White-fronteds at Idaho Flats on 5/16 (AS) and 5/17
(PK) may have been incapacitated (RB).
Non-breeding western CANADA GEESE fly north to the Columbia River to
molt (RL, PP). Flocks flew north over Eckman Lake on 5/12, Yaquina Head
on 5/13 (DPi), and Lincoln City, Boiler Bay, and the Salmon River on
5/17-19 (PP). 60 BRANT flew north off Boiler Bay on 4/21; 170 followed
on 5/1 and 168 on 5/2 (PP); the latest one was at YBSJ on 5/15 (BO).
WOOD DUCKS had paired in Beaver Creek Valley and GREEN-WINGED TEAL,
NORTHERN PINTAILS, and MALLARDS remained on 4/21 (YB&NFT). A MALLARD hen
with 8 tiny ducklings swam across the Alsea at P&BW's Tidewater home on
5/14. A GADWALL remained at Nute Slough on 4/28 (MC, PV).
NORTHERN SHOVELERS remained in Beaver Creek Valley through 4/10 (LO);
3 pairs swam off P&BW's Tidewater dock on 4/23, and 15 off Boiler Bay on
5/1 were followed by one more on 5/10 (PP).
1 to 2 BLACK SCOTERS frequented Boiler Bay through 5/15, and 1 was
off Seal Rock on 4/28 (MC, PV). 92 scoter spp./hr flew north off Yachats
on 4/22, and 222/hr flew north on 5/6 (KM). An adult LONG-TAILED DUCK
dove in the Boiler Bay kelp on 4/23 (PP).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.39 RAPTORS - RAILS
JS found an OSPREY and AS a NORTHERN HARRIER at Idaho Flats on 5/6;
another harrier visited Yaquina Head beginning 4/15 (JW of BLM).
Over Yaquina Head on 3/16, a BALD EAGLE harassed a snake-bearing
buteo, after which the eagle caught the dropped snake in mid-air; an
eagle there on 4/28 flew northeast from the COMMON MURRE colony with a
murre in its talons (JW of BLM). TK told LO that BALD EAGLE chicks were
rumored as of 4/24 in a new nest near Ona Beach SP; in late April and
early May, BB saw 1 adult and 1 immature 2-3 times a week over Yachats,
and one escorted BO over the Yaquina Bay Bridge on 5/7.
MC & PV spotted a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK along Idaho Point Road on 4/28.
A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK visited Yaquina Head on 3/2 (BLM). TJ, DP, and party
saw a PEREGRINE FALCON at Beverly Beach on 5/4. BGPT saw a MERLIN in
Idaho Flats on 5/5.
AS spotted 2 MOUNTAIN QUAIL along the Siletz River on 5/11. A
VIRGINIA RAIL responded to calls for YB&NFT in Beaver Creek Valley on
4/21, 2 more were in Beaver Creek Marsh on 5/5 (JS), and 1 was at Idaho
Flats on 5/12 (AS).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.40 SHOREBIRDS
Golden-Plover spp. visited Boiler Bay on 4/21 and 5/7 (PP). 5
breeding-plumaged BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS foraged in Idaho Flats on 4/22
(KM); 6 were there on 4/28 (DR), and a few continued through 5/6 (JS) and
at Boiler Bay through 5/19 (PP). Up to 19 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS were at
Idaho Flats on 5/4 (AS), 5/6 and 5/12 (JS); 15 were at Bayshore Beach on
5/6 (KM), and up to 3 at Boiler Bay through 5/19 (PP).
WANDERING TATTLERS visited Seal Rock on 5/17 (PK) and Boiler Bay on
5/15 (PP) and SPOTTED SANDPIPERS the LNG tank on 4/28 (MC, PV) and Idaho
Flats on 5/17 (PK). Up to 29 WHIMBRELS were at Sally's Bend and Idaho
Flats, their usual Yaquina Bay haunts, through 5/17 (MC, PV, AS, JS, PK);
Salishan Golf Course hosted 71 on 5/4 (PP), and 170 on the first fairway
on 5/8 provided an impressive gallery for EN. Up to 30 visited Boiler
Bay through 5/19 (PP), small flocks were at Bayshore Beach on 5/1 (JG),
and one there on 5/6 never could swallow a 2.5 cm long mole crab (KM).
Single LONG-BILLED CURLEWS were at Idaho Flats on 5/1 (JG) and 5/4 (AS).
MARBLED GODWITS were at Bayshore Beach on 5/1 (JG), Agate Beach on 5/4
(TJ, DP, and party), Idaho Flats on 5/7 (BGPT) and 5/12 (AS), and Boiler
Bay on 5/9 (PP).
1 RUDDY TURNSTONE joined BLACK TURNSTONES at YBSJ on 4/28 (MC, PV),
and up to 4 were at Idaho Flats on 5/5 (BGPT, JS). 1 RED KNOT visited
Bayshore Beach on 5/1 (JG), up to 3 visited Idaho Flats on 5/5-7 (JS, JF,
BGPT) and singles were at Boiler Bay on 5/9 and 5/10 (PP). 40
SANDERLINGS remained in Idaho Flats on 4/22, and of 40 at Bayshore Beach
on 5/6, 5 were in full breeding plumage (KM). DUNLIN numbers off Boiler
Bay peaked at over 1000 on 5/4, continuing through 5/19 (PP), and
remained at Idaho Flats through 5/12 (AS). At least 6000 calidrids passing
Boiler Bay on 5/7 were mostly DUNLINS and WESTERN SANDPIPERS (PP)[This was
originally reported as being at Idaho Flats by BGPT, but the error was
discovered in December 2002]. Over 13,000 WESTERN SANDPIPERS flew north
off Boiler Bay on 5/3, and smaller numbers continued there through 5/11
(PP). 776 WESTERN SANDPIPERS and LEAST SANDPIPERS/hour flew north off
Yachats on 5/6 (KM).
12 Dowitcher sp. were off Boiler Bay on 4/21, and 2 probed Idaho
Flats on 5/12 (AS); 8 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS visited Idaho Flats on 5/4
(AS) and 2 on 5/6 (JS).
Boiler Bay RED-NECKED PHALAROPE numbers peaked at over 20,000 on
5/9, and flights continued through 5/19; 3 RED PHALAROPES appeared on
both 5/9 and 5/10 (PP). On 4/22, BGPT saw 25 Red-neckeds and 11 Reds, on
5/5, 730 Red-neckeds and 33 Reds, and on 5/6, 162 Red-neckeds and 1 Red.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.41 GULLS - ALCIDS
A PARASITIC JAEGER flew past Boiler Bay on 5/9 (PP). 2 FRANKLIN'S
GULLS visited Salishan Spit on 5/13 (EN), and 3 flew north off Boiler Bay
on 5/19 (PP).
On 5/6, 90 adult BONAPARTE'S GULLS flew off Seal Rock, and 56/hour
off Yachats flew north (KM); first appearing at Boiler Bay on 5/7, their
numbers peaked at over 600 on 5/9 (PP), and 6 stopped by Idaho Flats on
5/12 (AS). Breeding-plumaged adults comprised 85% of 400 MEW GULLS just
east of the Alsea Bay bridge on 4/22 (KM). At Boiler Bay, small numbers
of MEW GULLS, RING-BILLED GULLS, and HERRING GULLS continued through
5/10-12, and northward-flying CALIFORNIA GULL numbers peaked at over 400
on 5/10 (PP). The latest THAYER'S GULL was a first spring at D River on
5/19, and the first reported HEERMANN'S GULL flew south off Boiler Bay on
5/10 (PP). 2 juvenile BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, unusual in embayments,
joined the Idaho Flats flock on 5/12 (AS), and two dead adults were on
the Thiel Creek Beach in April (B&SL, LO). At Boiler Bay through 5/11,
kittiwakes peaked at over 800 on 5/9, the same day 3 SABINE'S GULLS flew
past (PP); BGPT enjoyed 3 more on 5/7. On 5/1, SL found a SABINE'S GULL
wing during her Thiel Creek beached bird walk, providing the first study
record for the species.
Up to 16 CASPIAN TERNS passed Boiler Bay through 5/19, and singles
were in Idaho Flats on 5/4-6 (AS, JS). BGPT and PP had diagnostic views
of up to 5 ARCTIC TERNS from 5/5 to 5/13.
PIGEON GUILLEMOTS copulated at Yaquina Head on 3/22-23 (JW of BLM).
At Boiler Bay, PP saw up to 8 MARBLED MURRELETS throughout the period; up
to 6 CASSIN'S AUKLETS visited on 4/21-23, 400 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS flew
north on 4/21 and continued in lesser numbers through 5/19, and 2 TUFTED
PUFFINS dropped by on 4/21.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.42 PIGEONS - PIPITS
Dead in the (bird) bath: a BAND-TAILED PIGEON in P&BW's Tidewater
yard in early May; a swollen crop and breathing difficulty ruled out a
French Revolution-style murder, and besides, it was not writing letters
at the time. Live BAND-TAILED PIGEONS visited D&BM's Waldport feeder on
4/16, delighted YB&NFT on 4/21, gobbled seed at BB's Yachats feeder in
early May, visited J&ST's Newport feeders on 5/7, joined AS and a
MOURNING DOVE along Schooner Creek on 5/10 and AS by himself along the
Siletz River on 5/11.
VAUX'S SWIFTS first appeared in Newport on 4/30 (BO). RUFOUS
HUMMINGBIRDS joined JS in Beaver Creek Marsh on 5/5 and AS along the
Schooner Creek trail on 5/10, Siletz River on 5/11, and Idaho Flats on
5/12, emptied P&BW's Tidewater feeder daily as of 5/8, and remained in
D&BM's Waldport yard through 5/20, where an ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD last
visited on 4/24.
Along the Schooner Creek/Cougar Mt. trail on 5/10, AS found 2 HAIRY
WOODPECKERS, 4 NORTHERN FLICKERS, and 5 PILEATED WOODPECKERS; on 5/11, he
spotted 2 Hairys, 1 flicker, and 2 Pileateds along the Siletz River. A
DOWNY WOODPECKER remained through the period at Newport Heights (P&ML).
AS's flycatcher finds along the Siletz on 5/11 include 1 WESTERN
WOOD-PEWEE, 1 HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER, and 16 PACIFIC SLOPE FLYCATCHERS and
along the Schooner Creek/Cougar Mt. trail 5 Hammond's and 14 Pacific-
Slopes. 2 WESTERN KINGBIRDS adorned the LNG gate area on 4/28 (MC, PV).
On 5/10, AS noted 2 HUTTON'S VIREOS and 6 WARBLING VIREOS along
Schooner Creek/Cougar Mt. trail; 6 WARBLING VIREOS warbled along the
Siletz River on 5/11 (AS), and several frequented Newport Heights during
May (P&ML).
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS were in Beaver Creek Valley by 4/10
(LO) and Beaver Creek Marsh by 5/5 (JS) and nest-built at Seal Rock on
5/6 (KM). On 5/12, a TREE SWALLOW grabbed a CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE at
its nest hole during an eviction attempt at K&JC's yard 1 mile east of
Eckman Lake. In a tumble of entwined chirps, the fighters went to the
ground before each flew to safety, after which K&JC decreased the
chickadee's hole size and put up more swallow houses. PURPLE MARTINS
arrived at HMSC on 4/24 and were spotted in Idaho Flats through 5/12
(BGPT, JS, AS) and along the Siletz River on 5/11 (AS).
1 MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE remained in the Agate Beach residential area on
4/1 (EH). 2 CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE pairs nested in K&JC's yard 1 mile
east of Eckman Lake. A BROWN CREEPER crept to Ona Beach SP on 5/5 (JS).
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were present throughout the period at Newport
Heights (P&ML).
A WINTER WREN sang 8.5 miles up the north fork of Beaver Creek on
3/29 (EH). MARSH WRENS and WINTER WRENS sang for YB&NFT on 4/21 in
Beaver Creek Valley; AS saw 12 WINTER WRENS along the Schooner
Creek-Cougar Mt. trail on 5/10, at least 18 along the Siletz River on
5/11, and at least 12 in Idaho Flats on 5/12. BEWICK'S WRENS were at
Idaho Flats on 5/12 (AS) and at Newport Heights throughout the period
(P&ML).
On 3/29, a DIPPER sang for EH 8.5 miles up the north fork of Beaver
Creek; another was along the Siletz River on 5/11 (AS).
Along with 4 VARIED THRUSHES, up to 4 SWAINSON'S THRUSHES were along
Schooner Creek/Cougar Mt. trail on 5/10. Swainson's were also along the
Siletz River on 5/11 and at Idaho Flats on 5/12 (AS), and P&BW's first of
year arrived in Tidewater on 5/15. A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE stopped by
Yaquina Head on 4/27 (BLM).
AMERICAN PIPITS visited Boiler Bay on 4/26 and 5/1, 4, and 10 (PP)
and Beaver Creek Marsh on 5/5 (JS).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.43 WARBLERS - FINCHES
LO found COMMON YELLOWTHROATS in Beaver Creek Valley on 4/10, and
they accompanied WILSON'S WARBLERS there on 4/21 (YB&NFT). WILSON'S
WARBLERS arrived at Agate Beach on 4/23 (AS), Yaquina Head on 4/28 (BLM),
Waldport on 5/3 (D&BM), Beaver Creek Marsh on 5/5, south of Waldport and
Idaho Flats on 5/6 (JS), Schooner Creek on 5/10 and the Siletz River on
5/11 (AS), and Tidewater on 5/15 (P&BW). YELLOW WARBLERS were outside
EN's HMSC office on 5/9, at Idaho Flats on 5/12 (AS) and at D River on
5/19 (PP). TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS were at Yaquina Head on 4/13 (BLM) and
Agate Beach on 4/23 (AS), and they joined BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS
and HERMIT WARBLERS throughout the period at Newport Heights (P&ML).
11 Hermits were along the Schooner Creek-Cougar Mt. trail on 5/10 and
14 along the Siletz River on 5/11 (AS).
K&JC's feeder hosted a WESTERN TANAGER 1 mi E of Eckman Lake on
5/13.
FOX SPARROWS last appeared at LO's Newport feeder on 4/25 and D&BM's
Waldport feeder on 5/13. AS found 2 VESPER SPARROWS a mile inland from
Depoe Bay on 4/21 and another among YBNJ dunes on 4/23. GOLDEN-CROWNED
SPARROWS became unusually abundant at D&BM's Waldport feeder the last
week of April before the last one visited on 5/3, although they continued
at P&BW's Tidewater feeder through 5/8.
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS arrived in Yachats on 4/27 (BB), 1 mi east of
Eckman Lake on 4/30 (J&KC), Tidewater on 5/4 (P&BW's), and Waldport on
5/6 (D&BM's); a pair visited Tidewater on 5/15 (P&BW). On 5/19, PP
spotted a male LAZULI BUNTING at D River.
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS copulated in J&KC's yard on 4/29 1 mi east of
Eckman Lake; a female lacking breast streaking visited a feeder outside
SK's HMSC office on 5/1. Yaquina Head hosted a WESTERN MEADOWLARK on
3/1-2 (BLM).
A fluffed HOUSE FINCH at Coquille Point on 5/9 may have had the same
disease afflicting many siskins last month (L&JM). A sick RED CROSSBILL
on ground at Idaho Point was reported to RB on 4/23; healthy ones visited
LH's Newport feeder on 4/24 and used a Newport utility wire on 5/15 (MH);
several were along the Schooner Creek/Cougar Mt. trail on 5/10 and the
Siletz River on 5/11 (AS) and nesting in Newport Heights on 5/20 (P&ML).
EVENING GROSBEAKS visited BB's Yachats feeder on 5/6, RC's Wandemere
feeder on 5/9, and P&ML's Newport business the week of 5/13. AMERICAN
GOLDFINCHES replaced PINE SISKINS at P&BW's Tidewater feeder as of 5/4,
but siskins stuck it out with goldfinches at D&BM's Waldport feeder
through 5/13.
OBSERVERS: Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Bird Guide Pelagic Trip (BGPT),
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) staff at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural
Area, Rebecca Cheek, Marcia Cutler, Darrel Faxon, John Fitchen,
Jill Grover, Louise Hemphill, Mary Holbert, Eric Horvath, Tim Janzen,
Paul & Mary Land, Bob Loeffel, Shirley Loeffel, Terry Keady,
Steve Kupillas, David Mandell, Linda & John MacKown, Kathy Merrifield,
Craig Miller, Dawson and Bobby Mohler, Eric Nelson, Bob Olson,
Laimons Osis, Chuck Philo, Darlene Philpott, Phil Pickering,
Dave Pitkin (DPi), Doug Robberson, Alan Schmierer, Jim & Shirley Thielen,
Paula Vanderheul, Pat & Bunny Wright, Yaquina Birders and Naturalists
Field Trip (YB&NFT).
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