Menu of June-December 2003 Bird Field Notes
by Kathy Merrifield from the Sandpiper (a publication
of Yaquina Birders & Naturalists, Lincoln County, Oregon)
Comments about abundance or seasonality refer only to LINCOLN COUNTY.
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Month of
Sandpiper, Volume 24
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August 2003
September 2003
October 2003
November 2003
December 2003
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BIRD FIELD NOTES from the August 2003 Sandpiper 24(5)
Abbreviations and some Lincoln Co. site locations: ABACFT=American
Birding Association Convention Field Trips led by TJ, Beaver Creek=creek
flowing through Ona Beach State Park, Bird Guide pelagic trips,
Coquille Point: SE Corner of Sally's Bend, CWRS=Chintimini Wildlife Rehab.
Center in Corvallis, Driftwood Beach
SP=park about halfway between Seal Rocks and Waldport, Eckman Lake=lake 2
mi east of Waldport along Hwy 34, Eckman Slough=slough between Alsea Bay
and Eckman Lake, fide=reported to, Driftwood Beach Oyster Company, mp 7.8
on Yaquina Bay Road, Fox Creek=2 mi S of Seal Rock SP on U. S. 101, Great
Lincoln County Baitfish Feed (=GLCBF; 7/22- about 8/5), HMSC =Hatfield
Marine Science Center, HY=hatch-year (bird that hatched in 2003), Idaho
Flats=large embayment just east of HMSC, MMP=Mike Miller Park, county park
on east side of Hwy 101 in South Beach, OBOL=Oregon Birders On Line,
OCA=Oregon Coast Aquarium, Ona
Beach=state park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along Hwy 101 at
Beaver Creek, OPS=Old Pixieland site, a pullout on N side of Hwy 18 just E
of junction, west of Otis. Quail St.=southernmost residential street &
beach access in Seal Rock, Sallys Bend=large embayment east of the LNG tank
at Yaquina 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, YBSJ=Yaquina Bay South Jetty.
* * * * * * * * * * *
LOONS - HERONS
1 PACIFIC LOON was found dead near Thiel Creek in May (B&SLo, LO,
SB), a live one flew N off Boiler Bay on 7/4 (DT), and BGPT saw one off
Newport on 7/5. One each breeding plumaged PACIFIC LOON and
RED-THROATED LOON flew N off Boiler Bay on 8/1 (GG). A few winter-plumaged
COMMON LOONS summer here; one surprised JG at YBSJ on 7/29.
1 WESTERN GREBE was found dead near Thiel Creek in July (B&SLo, LO, SB).
2 SOOTY SHEARWATERS and 1 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER were found dead near
Thiel Creek in May, and 3 Sooties and 5 NORTHERN FULMARS were found dead
there in July (B&SLo, LO, SB). Off Newport, BGPT counted about 250
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES on 5/31 and 317 on 7/5. Off Newport on 5/31, BGPT
saw over 1000 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS (high for spring) and about 7000
SOOTY SHEARWATERS closely trailed by a FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER. On 7/5,
BGPT counted 621 fulmars, 510 Pink-footeds, and 2594 Sooties. A few
Sooties were off Boiler Bay on 8/1 (GG), and EH saw one there on 8/3,
1 LEACH'S STORM-PETREL was found dead near Thiel Creek in June
(B&SLo, LO, SB). BGPT counted 273 FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS off Newport on
7/5. While conducting seabird surveys 8 mi W of Depoe Bay on 7/17, USFWS
biologists DaP and MW saw 3 Leach's.
BROWN PELICANS were regular over the Seal Rock surf in late June
(STh); others flew N off Boiler Bay on 7/4 (DT) and off Yachats on 7/10
(fide BB). On 5/25, CPh saw an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN flying with a Brown
between the Yaquina Bay jetties; JSh saw probably the same one at King
Slough on 5/26, DaP saw it there on 5/27, as did CPh again on 5/28. DT saw
a nice northward movement of BRANDT'S CORMORANTS and PELAGIC CORMORANTS off
Boiler Bay on 7/4.
A GREEN HERON fished Idaho Flats on 7/13 (MFC&PV), and at least 1
flew over Beaver Creek on 7/25 (JG). 4 GREAT EGRETS had arrived in Idaho
Flats on 7/10 (RL), and RL counted 37 there on 8/4; on 8/5, they were
"freaking out with the thunder and lightning as if they'd never seen it
before (RL)."
* * * * * * * * * * *
WATERFOWL
The 1st 4 Western CANADA GEESE flew N over Yaquina Bay on 5/14, and a
flock of 14 Westerns flew north over SW Newport on 5/28 (RL). On 5/15,
about 200 high-pitched Canadas flew over LO's Beaver Creek house. A BRANT
occupied Seal Rock on 6/3 and 6/5, and 2 flew past Boiler Bay on 6/7
(ABACFT). A WOOD DUCK hen led 4 small ducklings across Eckman Lake on 7/12
(MFC&PV); YBNFT noted one in MMP on 7/1.
The progress of female SURF SCOTERS marked last winter in San
Francisco Bay and trailed by satellite can be viewed at
http://www.werc.usgs.gov/scoter (RL). A female BLACK SCOTER remained at
Yaquina Head on 6/7 (ABACFT). 12 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and 1 Surf bobbed
off Seal Rock on 7/13 (MFC&PV). A lone male Surf flew S off Boiler Bay on
8/3 (WH).
OCA Aviculturists treated a worn-plumaged, starving female
LONG-TAILED DUCK found 5/27 on South Beach; she was to be released into the
wild following fattening up (KA). 1 HARLEQUIN DUCK swam off Yaquina Head
on 6/7, 4 surfed at Seal Rock on 6/2 (JSu), 4 - 9 were there from 6/3 - 7
(ABACFT); JG spotted 2 there on 7/29, and on 7/13, MFC&PV saw up to 8
there.
* * * * * * * * * * *
DIURNAL RAPTORS - QUAIL
On 6/30, the OSPREY nest built on its own special tower and platform
at the Port of Toledo contained 1 chick (PD), and at Eckman Lake on 7/13,
at least 1 nestling exercised its wings (MFC&PV). OSPREYS were regular
over Seal Rock during late June (STh). A WHITE-TAILED KITE finialed a lone
salt march spruce at MP 9.5 in upper Yaquina Bay (SK); StL spotted another
at Beaver Creek on 8/6. An adult male Northern Harrier visited HMSC the
evening of 6/13 (RB).
A dark-headed eagle, probably an immature BALD EAGLE, graced the big
rock at Coquille Point on 6/3 (SK); JVE enjoyed up to 4 eagles, including
at least 2 such dark-heads, in upper Yaquina Bay from 7/24-26. BALD EAGLES
were regular over Seal Rock in late Jun-Jul (J&STh).
An adult PEREGRINE FALCON flew N past RB's Newport apartment on 6/16;
WH saw 2 in Newport on 8/8.
Why did the quail cross the road? So that BLo, at his house 1/4 mi S
of the Newport Airport on 6/4, couldn't identify them, but previous
sightings there were of MOUNTAIN QUAIL.
* * * * * * * * * * *
SHOREBIRDS - GULLS (PART I)
JSu saw a breeding-plumaged BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER in Idaho Flats on
6/2. 9 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS fed at Ona Beach on 7/25 (JG), and 66 joined
other live peeps and 4 dead murre chicks at Surfland on 8/8 (LO).
2 MARBLED GODWITS visited Idaho Flats on 6/2 (JSu), as did 1 on 6/3,
6/7 (TJ) and 6/30 (RL). WHIMBRELS there numbered 34 on 6/11 (EH), at least
20 on 6/30 (RL), about 40 on 6/2 (JSu), at least 30 on 7/13 (MFC&PV), and
45, including 1 HY, on 8/5 (JF&MI). Lone GREATER YELLOWLEGS were in Idaho
Flats on 6/2 (JSu), at Ona Beach on 6/2 (RL) and 7/25 (JG), and in Eckman
Lake on 7/13 (MFC&PV). A breeding plumaged SPOTTED SANDPIPER joined SaL
for her Yachats 804 Trail run on 7/11.
On 7/13, 60 SURFBIRDS and 25 BLACK TURNSTONES had arrived for the
winter at Seal Rock (MFC&PV); a RUDDY TURNSTONE with the Blacks was just
passing through. On 8/3, 5 SURFBIRDS, 30 BLACK TURNSTONES, and 4
WANDERING TATTLERS surfed, turned stones, and wandered at Yaquina Head.
3 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS dowitched in Idaho Flats on 6/30 (RL). About
4 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS dowitched in Eckman Lake and 2 in Idaho Flats on
7/13, as did 1 adult and 6 HY there on 8/5 (JF&MI).
1 lone RED KNOT roamed the beach at Seal Rocks on 6/2 (JSu). Idaho
Flats hosted 44 WESTERN SANDPIPERS on 6/30 (RL), and 1 fed at Beaver Ck on
with 3 LEAST SANDPIPERS on 7/25 (JG). A HY SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER visited
Idaho Flats on 8/5 (JF&MI). BGPT counted 1 RED PHALAROPE and 17 RED-NECKED
PHALAROPES off Newport on 7/5, and GG saw a Red-necked off Newport on 8/2.
BGPT counted 12 PARASITIC JAEGERS and a SOUTH POLAR SKUA off Newport
on 5/31 and 2 Skuas and 2 POMARINE JAEGERS off Newport on 7/5. On 6/3, a
PARASITIC JAEGER banked and swirled in pursuit of a CASPIAN TERN right over
RC's Wandemere house;"Great yard bird, huh?" she wrote.
1 BONAPARTE'S GULL was found dead near Thiel Creek in May (B&SLo, LO,
SB). A breeding-plumaged FRANKLIN'S GULL joined RING-BILLED GULLS and
CALIFORNIA GULLS in Idaho Flats on 7/13 (MFC&PV). Idaho Flats hosted 12
Bonaparte's on 6/2 (JSu) and 7 on 6/11 (EH). Flocks of up to 10
HEERMANN'S GULLS flew north off Yaquina Head and Seal Rock on 6/3, 6/5, &
6/7 (ABACFT). Heermann's flew N off Boiler Bay on 7/4 (DT), BGPT counted
17 off Newport on 7/5, MFC&PV saw 20 off Seal Rock on 7/13, and 4/min flew
N off Boiler Bay on 8/1, where 840 Californias flew N at 7/min (GG) and 15-
20 Californias/min flew N on 8/3 (WH). JF&MI spotted 2 molting adult MEW
GULLS in Idaho Flats on 8/5.
* * * * * * * * * * *
GULLS PART II: GULLS AND BAITFISH
BB was the first to announce the Great Lincoln County Baitfish Feed
(GLCBF), which began on 7/22, extending S to at least Yachats and N through
Siletz Bay and to at least Neskowin (Tillamook Co.; RL). Up to 2500 gulls
fed and rested at Yachats the first day, perhaps too full to fly, in the
Yachats River mouth and adjacent ocean (BB). By 7/23, the river mouth was
silver with anchovies (WH); on 7/25, smaller numbers littered the bottom of
a sandy tide pool, and many gulls caught live fish (fide WH). On 7/26, WH
counted over 1000 WESTERN GULLS, over 500 GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS and
Western/Glaucous-winged hybrids, about 500 Californias, and about 50
Heermann's. A few gulls excavated live sandlance--small, slender fish that
bury themselves in the sand, normally below the low tide line.
On 7/28, PP observed at least 4000 Californias and 2000 Heermann's in
N Siletz Bay and the tip of Salishan Spit; as of 7/29, the flock had grown
to at least 7000 Californias and 2500 Heermann's. The incredible late
afternoon cloud of thousands of gulls in the air over the spit, flying in
and out of the edge of the fog bank, was one of the most beautiful bird
spectacles PP had ever seen. DaP estimated at least 12,000 gulls in lower
Siletz Bay that afternoon; still others were obscured by fog. Over 5000
remained through 8/3; among the anchovies there that day, WH also
identified herring - difficult for Heermann's to swallow due to their
larger size and inviting dramatic chases and thefts. 1 1st-yr Bonaparte's,
a few CASPIAN TERNS, and over 50 BROWN PELICANS joined the flock, but WH
was intrigued by the lack of diving birds. By 8/6, the thousands were gone
(PP).
* * * * * * * * * * *
TERNS - ALCIDS
30 CASPIAN TERNS rested in Idaho Flats on 6/2 (JSu), up to 50 flew N
off Boiler Bay on 7/4 (DT), BGPT spotted 2 off Newport on 7/5, and RB heard
the first HY calls over the HMSC on 7/15. PP saw some HY among the
Caspians in Siletz Bay on 7/29.
In B&SLo, LO, & SBs' beached bird study near Thiel Creek, 9 Common
Murres were found dead in May and also 9 in June; 23 adult and 8 HY murres,
1 ANCIENT MURRELET, and 3 CASSIN'S AUKLETS were found dead there in July.
BLo thinks the low murre chick numbers relate to low numbers of parent-
chick pairs this season. Up to 1000 COMMON MURRES flew N off Boiler Bay on
7/4, according to DT, who also enjoyed seeing murres "flying" underwater
from the cliffs there. BGPT counted 1480 COMMON MURRES off Newport on 7/5,
the same day EH and friends observed a large northward murre movement off
Boiler Bay , when WH counted a total of 6500 at about 100/min there; on 8/1
there, 150 murres/ min flew N (= 18,000; GG), and on 8/3, 30-50 flew N/min
(= 6500; WH).
12 PIGEON GUILLEMOTS were found dead near Thiel Creek in June (B&SLo,
LO, SB). Over 40 live guillemots littered rocks and water at Boiler Bay on
7/4 (DT), BGPT counted 115 off Newport on 7/5, the same day MN observed 11
adults at Driftwood Beach carried fish to their nests. A CASSIN'S AUKLET
dove through the foam line near the Boiler Bay rocks on 7/4 (DT), BGPT saw
1 off Newport on 7/5, and GG saw 1 off Boiler Bay on 8/1. 1 RHINOCEROS
AUKLET was near land off Boiler Bay on 7/4 (DT), a few were there on 8/3
(WH) as were 12 on 8/1 (GG). DT saw 1 HY MARBLED MURRELET off Boiler Bay
on 7/4, BGPT counted 7 off Newport on 7/5, several in breeding plumage were
off Boiler Bay on 8/3 (WH), and GG saw "a handful" off Boiler Bay on 8/1
(he has big hands) and about 14 off Newport on 8/2. ABACFT saw at least 2
TUFTED PUFFINS fly past Boiler Bay on 6/3, 6/5, and 6/7 - just as if they
were filling an order for the spectacular; another passed Yaquina Head on
8/5. BGPT saw 2 puffins off Newport on 7/5, EH and friends saw several
flying N off Boiler Bay on 8/3; WH saw 2 there that afternoon, and GG saw 4
off Boiler Bay on 8/1.
* * * * * * * * * * *
DOVES - JAYS
On 5/25, a MOURNING DOVE came by J&KC's yard 4 mi E of Waldport,
joining 36 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS regular there as of 6/22. WH saw a
MOURNING DOVE in his South Beach yard on 7/1 and a few others in Greater
Newport throughout July. DS spotted Band-taileds at OPS on 7/7. On 7/25,
JG noted ROCK PIGEON adults sitting near untended eggs on the Beaver Creek
bridge. (I just had to include this new AOU standardized common name.)
Fussing AMERICAN ROBINS alerted LO to a BARRED OWL on his Beaver
Creek lands on 6/1. MN heard a COMMON NIGHTHAWK over Fox Creek on 6/4;
another flew over Wandemere in the 6/19 pre-dawn (RC). CPh saw a
BLACK SWIFT fly over his Toledo home on 7/1; another flew over Hwy 34, 10
miles E of Waldport on 7/17 (fide HN).
NORTHERN FLICKERS used peanut-butter feeders 4 mi E of Waldport as of
6/22 (J&KC). A Flicker flicked in MMP on 7/1 (YBNFT), and a "red-shafted"
Flicker brought a baby to WN&RC's Wandemere feeder for millet-ingesting
lessons on 7/25. A PILEATED WOODPECKER landed on a 50-foot snag just
sparred by loggers at the N end of Thiel Ck Rd on 7/23 (BLo); on 7/24,
another worked on a decaying snag 3 mi N of Yachats (fide BB). A Newport
window-hitting HAIRY WOODPECKER rehabilitated at CWRS was released in
Newport after complete recovery; see their web site to appreciate their
mission (fide RF).
DaP heard an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER whipping up beers at Millport
Slough, Siletz Bay on 5/23; YBNFT detected another at MMP, along with a
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE and a CASSIN'S VIREO, on 7/1.
Juvenile AMERICAN CROW fledglings stuck close to adults at Beaver Ck
on 7/25 (JG), and at Idaho Flats prompted their parents to dive-bomb SK and
his dog on 7/12. Crows as well as gulls and birders enjoyed the GLCBF: at
Yachats on 7/25, they walked "around on the sand, sometimes cocking their
heads like robins on a lawn, [then] stopped and dug with their bills...
[and] would often come up with a live fish" (WH); crows dug up sandlance
there the next day. A partial albino STELLER'S JAY showed up at J&KC's
yard 4 mi E of Waldport on 5/22. A SCRUB JAY visited RF's Newport yard on
6/24.
* * * * * * * * * * *
SWALLOWS - TANAGERS
I wish all Sandpiper readers could enjoy RC's excellent and
entertaining writing about the soap-opera-like progression of fledgling
swallows and juncos at RC&WN's Wandemere home. Perhaps some day she'll
establish a web site or even write a book. Again this season,
BARN SWALLOWS nesting in the light fixture over the garage washing machine
arrived on 5/15, nest construction began on 5/22, incubation of 5 eggs
began on 6/12, 4 hatched on about 6/22, and abrupt fledging on 7/13
coincided with WN getting out the lawn mower and was followed by an
extended parental round-up of babies the same and subsequent nights. The
first brood was welcome until a second nest was initiated on 7/19; 5 eggs
were incubated from 7/28 until hatching on 8/10; parents still fed babies
as of 8/15.
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS chicks also in RC&WN's Wandemere yard peered
from a (probably) 2-female, 2-brood nest box on 6/15. All had fledged as
of 7/21, in two groups 5-6 days apart, adding credence to the 2-brood
theory. On 6/11 in J&KC's yard 4 mi E of Waldport, TREE SWALLOWS, upset
about a Douglas squirrel invading their nest box, abandoned it and their
2-egg-nest; another Tree pair held tight and continued to feed their
hatchlings. A fledged HY CLIFF SWALLOW begged from adults at Beaver Ck on
7/25 (JG). 1-2 pairs of NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS were nesting in a
sandy beach bluff at Wandemere as of 6/3 (WN&RC). EH found lots of
PURPLE MARTIN activity at the HMSC colony on 6/11, and DaP saw 6-10 pairs
there on 6/28.
SWAINSON'S THRUSHES first called in Seal Rock on 5/31 (JT) and first
sang in Wandemere on 6/10 (RC). On 7/7, DS spotted a fledgling and an
adult female WESTERN BLUEBIRD at the jct of Immonen & Cannery Mtn Rds near
Lincoln City.
A flock of 13 CEDAR WAXWINGS sat on the wire outside CPe's Newport
house on 5/22; others arrived in Wandemere on 5/20 (RC&WN) and 4 mi E of
Waldport on 6/5 (J&KC). YBNFT heard an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and saw a
WILSON'S WARBLER in MMP on 7/1. Audubon's YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS and at
least 1 BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER visited Seal Rock on 7/10, and a pair
of YELLOW WARBLERS appeared on 7/29 (J&STh). On 7/7, DS saw HERMIT
WARBLERS at the Immonen Rd/Cannery Mtn Rd Jct near Lincoln City.
LO saw the first WESTERN TANAGERS on his Beaver Creek lands on 6/2,
2 visited J&KC's yard 4 mi E of Waldport on 5/24, DS spotted one at the
Immonen Rd/Cannery Mtn Rd jct near Lincoln City on 7/7, YBNFT heard 1 at
MMP on 7/1, and a female perched in a tree in BB's Yachats yard on 8/7.
* * * * * * * * * * *
TOWHEES - FINCHES
SPOTTED TOWHEES were regular in J&KC's yard 4 mi E of Waldport as of
6/22; at least 5 juveniles overflowed WN&RC's Wandemere yard on 7/28.
SONG SPARROWS enjoyed the peanut butter feeders in J&KC's yard 4 mi E of
Waldport as of 6/22, J&STh's Seal Rock yard on 7/12, and Beaver Ck on 7/25
(JG). J&STh noted WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS at Seal Rock as of 7/12, and
WN&RC's Wandemere yard was overrun with juvenile White-crowneds as
DARK-EYED JUNCOS have now nested at least 2 years in RC&WN's
Wandemere yard. The 2nd clutch (after the 1st failed) fledged on 5/25, and
lusty singing from the male suggested yet another. After being hidden in
the woods for a couple of weeks, these 2nd-clutch junclets made their debut
in society on 6/11, by 6/13, they were on their own, and on 6/17, the
adults chased them away. On 6/24-25, the adults carried food away from
flower beds; suggesting a 3rd brood. RC never located this one; maybe a
raccoon or chipmunk found it prior to fledging. A 3rd clutch of 2 junclets
fledged on 6/28; a 3rd egg didn't hatch. On 6/29, the female carried straw
to a hanging fuchsia ; 1 egg appeared there each day from 7/2 - 7/4; the
female incubated from 7/4 - 7/21, and 2 babies fledged on 7/28.
"Astonishing!" wrote RC. No wonder JG heard a singing junco along Beaver
Creek on 7/25.
As of 6/22, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS accessed peanut butter feeders in
J&KC's yard 4 mi E of Waldport; they frequented LO's Beaver Creek yard as
of 5/7, and as of 7/28, a female brought 1, maybe 2 juveniles to WN&RC's
Wandemere feeder.
3 begging juveniles followed a female BREWER'S BLACKBIRD to WN&RC's
Wandemere feeder on 6/13, accompanied by 2 female RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS,
suggesting that Brewer's nested in the nearby marsh.
YBNFT spotted PURPLE FINCHES and RED CROSSBILLS at MMP on 7/1
(YBNFT); DS saw Purples at OPS on 7/7, and they were regular at BB's
Yachats feeders as of 7/11, where RED CROSSBILL had flown over on 7/1. As
of 6/22, AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES continued nest material collection in J&KC's
yard 4 mi E of Waldport. AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES and PINE SISKINS inhabited
OPS on 7/7 (DS). EVENING GROSBEAKS arrived at LO's Beaver Ck feeder on
5/30, were regular at Seal Rock in late June, and a single male visited
there on 7/12 (J&STh). What a summer!
OBSERVERS: American Birding Association Convention Field Trips led
by Tim Janzen (=ABACFT), Karen Anderson, Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Bird
Guide Pelagic Trip (led by TSh, TSn, GG, TG, and DM), Sara Brown,
Rebecca Cheek, Jorrie & Ken Ciotti, Marcia F. Cutler, Pat Dickey,
Roy Filby, Joe Fontaine, Joel Geier, Greg Gillson, Troy Guy, Marshall Iliff,
Wayne Hoffman, Eric Horvath, Tim Janzen, Jolene via e-mail (=JVE),
Steve Kupillas, Janet Lamberson, Steve Lay (StL), Sally Lockyear (SaL),
Bob & Shirley Loeffel (B&SLo), Roy Lowe, David Mandell, Harry Nehls,
Walt Nelson, Michael Noack, Laimons Osis, Carol Perkins (CPe),
Chuck Philo (CPh), Phil Pickering, Dave Pitkin (DaP), Jim Shaw (JSh),
Jamie Simmons (JSi), David Smith, Tim Shelmerdine (TSh),
Tom Snetsinger (TSn), John Sullivan (JSu), Jim & Shirley Thielen (J&STh),
David Tracy, Paula Vanderheul, Matt Wells, Yaquina Birders and Naturalists'
Field Trips (YBNFT; led by EH with CP and LO.)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BIRD FIELD NOTES from the September 2003 Sandpiper 24(6)
by Kathy Merrifield
Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations: Bird
Guide web site for information about pelagic trips,
Coquille Point: SE Corner of Sally's Bend, Eckman Lake: lake 2 mi east of
Waldport along Hwy 34, Eckman Slough=slough between Alsea Bay and Eckman
Lake, fide: reported to, HMSC: Hatfield Marine Science Center, HY: hatch-
year (bird that hatched in YEAR), Idaho Flats: large embayment just east of
HMSC, Lost Creek SP: part about 4.75 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge,
OBOL=Oregon Birders On Line, Ona Beach: state park about 6.6 mi south of
Yaquina Bay bridge along Hwy 101 at Beaver Creek, Perpetua Bank: undersea
elevation (hill) 32 miles W of Yachats, Sallys Bend: large embayment east
of the LNG tank at Yaquina Bay, South Bay: mudflats upstream from King
Slough; Stonewall Bank: undersea elevation beneath Stonewall Bank weather
buoy 19 mi off Newport, 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, USFWS: US Fish & Wildlife Service, Wandemere:
about 0.5 mi north of Ona Beach along Hwy 101, Wecoma Dock: HMSC research
vessel dock on South Beach Peninsula, YBSJ: Yaquina Bay South Jetty.
* * * * * * * * * * *
LOONS - TUBENOSES
PP seawatched off Boiler Bay an average of 4.2 hours on each of
4 days; RED-THROATED LOON numbers peaked on 9/13, when 80 flew S, PACIFIC
LOON numbers peaked at 10 on 9/13, and COMMON LOON numbers peaked on 9/1,
when 8 flew N. 24 mostly adult RED-THROATED LOONS rafted in flocks of up
to 14 off Seal Rock on 9/14 (KM). 3 PACIFIC LOONS off Lost Creek on 8/24
wore complete winter plumage, but the winter plumage of 1 there and 3 off
Seal Rock on 9/14 was topped by the white crown of summer immatures (KM).
On 8/30, RL's neighbor told him about a breeding-plumaged adult PACIFIC
LOON dabbling like a MALLARD in Eckman Lake; JSi spotted it there on 9/1,
wondered why it didn't dive, and concluded that it probably had an injured
right leg. On 9/5, RL attempted to capture it for rehab, but it eluded
him. After it detected RL's presence, it called continually while swimming
away. The loon was not observed thereafter.
While fishing on 9/1, JB & QCN saw a HORNED GREBE on the ocean side
of the YBSJ; a lone transitional-plumaged Horned floated off Lost Creek on
9/14 (KM). PP spotted a RED-NECKED GREBE in Boiler Bay on 9/1.
1 PIED-BILLED GREBE had arrived in Eckman Lake as of 8/17 (SaL), 4 were
there on 9/1 (JSi), and 4 HY, 1 breeding adult, and 2 winter adults were
there by 9/14 (KM). A lone WESTERN GREBE floated off Lost Creek on 8/24,
and another joined a CLARK'S GREBE there on 9/14, the same day 5 Westerns
rafted off Seal Rock (KM).
1 LAYSAN ALBATROSS, 1 NORTHERN FULMAR, and 1 SOOTY SHEARWATER were
found dead along 4.6 miles of beach near Thiel Creek in August (B&SLo, LO,
SB). BGPT leaders know that squid is to BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES as catnip
is to cats; on their 8/31 Stonewall Bank pelagic trip, two picky Black-
footeds indeed slurped up the squid but actually spit out the anchovies
(GG). (So don't try sharing a pizza with them.) NORTHERN FULMARS,
however, craved anchovies but eschewed the squid (GG). A rare MANX
SHEARWATER among many SOOTY SHEARWATERS and PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS circled
TG's fishing boat off Depoe Bay on 8/16, and DT saw scattered Sooties 3 mi
W of Depoe Bay on 8/17. PP spotted 1 or more Manx off Boiler Bay on 9/17
as well as up to 3 BULLER'S SHEARWATERS on 9/1 and another on 9/17. Also
off Boiler Bay on 9/17, Sooty numbers peaked at over 30,000, and
Pink-footed numbers peaked at over 100; both flew N. BGPT counted over 65
fulmars, 500 Pink-footeds, and 128 Sooties as well as 5 BULLER'S
SHEARWATERS and a FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER on their 8/30 Perpetua Bank trip,
and on 8/31, they counted 5 FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS (GG).
* * * * * * * * * * *
PELICANS - HERONS
BROWN PELICAN numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 9/17 at 300,
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT numbers on 9/13 at 110, and BRANDT'S CORMORANTS on
9/17 at 800 followed by 250 more on 9/18; all flew N (PP).
103 GREAT BLUE HERONS dispersed across Yaquina Bay in the 8/30 dusk
(JF). Also at dusk on 9/1, RB heard an isolated flying GREAT BLUE HERON
unlike any he'd heard during decades of systematic observation: the
high-pitched calls were nearly continuous, and they sounded distressed -
reminiscent of a WESTERN GULL alarm call. Just after dark on 9/2, a Great
Blue in upper Yaquina Bay emitted high-pitched calls, almost like a person
screaming, which was what SK thought it was at first. At
1015 AM on 9/3 at HMSC, a Great Blue gave a high-pitched call, resembling a
loud, hoarse WESTERN GULL, that communicated alarm; H&TW guessed it was
injured but could see no obvious reason for distress. At 4:35 PM on 9/10,
DP heard a strange, high-pitched squawking outside his HMSC USFWS office:
it was a GREAT BLUE HERON flying over Idaho Flats, repeating high-pitched
squawks every 5 seconds or so. On 9/11 at 9:15 AM, TW flushed an
odd-calling heron from Idaho Flats; its call was a squawky scream repeated
10-12 times during a short flight. TW and PL traced the call to a
bedraggled adult eating a fish, but when they flushed it, it gave a normal
cronk and then flew silently, so, concludes TW, either it wasn't the same
bird or it was in a more normal mood.
SK noted a huge congregation of Great Blues and GREAT EGRETS at
Coquille Point on 9/3. A GREAT EGRET visited DG's Toledo yard on 8/20. At
Eckman Lake, SaL spotted a GREAT EGRET on 8/17, and 3 were there on 8/29
(JSi) and 9/1 (KM). On 9/3, 38 Greats congregated in Idaho Flats (JL).
26 GREAT EGRETS matched the 26 Great Blues along South Bay in the 9/14
receding evening tide (KM). EH found a juvenile BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON
near the Wecoma Dock on 8/22 and reminded us of its rarity in Lincoln
County (EH).
* * * * * * * * * * *
WATERFOWL
8 small CANADA GEESE flew N off Boiler Bay on 9/1 (PP).
AR, at Devils Lake in Lincoln City, has been instrumental in
maintaining WOOD DUCK nest boxes for several years, and "the woodies seem
to be holding their own despite habitat loss," AR writes. In 2003, WOOD
DUCKS occupied 12 of 39 boxes and produced 180 eggs, of which 101 hatched.
109 hatched in 2002, and 76 hatched in 2001. We really appreciate your
generous work, AR, but probably not nearly as much as the WOOD DUCKS do!
At Eckman Lake, SaL spotted 2 adult female and 2 HY WOOD DUCKS on
8/17; JSi saw 1 female there on 9/1, and on 9/14, a partial eclipse male
joined a female, which rotated on the water like a phalarope while plucking
food from the surface (KM). 7 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 40 MALLARDS, 6 NORTHERN
PINTAILS, and 6 AMERICAN WIGEONS at Eckman Lake on 9/14 all included
eclipse males (KM). A MALLARD flew N off Boiler Bay on 9/1 (PP), and
4 dabbled in Sally's Bend on 9/14 (KM). 8 NORTHERN PINTAILS were in Idaho
Flats by 8/24 (KM), 24 flew S off Boiler Bay on 9/1 (PP), and 3 fed at the
base of King Slough on 9/14 (KM). A CINNAMON TEAL or BLUE-WINGED TEAL flew
S with Pintails on 9/1 (PP).
4 adult male WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS joined 14 mostly male multi-aged
SURF SCOTERS off Lost Creek on 8/24; 14 Surfs and a pair of White-wingeds
were scattered there on 9/14 (KM). 615 Surfs, including a flock of 250
females, rafted just west of the surf line off Seal Rock on 9/14 under
southward-flying flocks of up to 24 of each, and 4 HARLEQUIN DUCKS dove
among the scoters (KM). Scoter numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 9/13, when
800 Surfs and 300 White-wingeds flew N; a BLACK SCOTER was there on 9/18
(PP).
38 synchronously swimming and diving female-plumaged COMMON
MERGANSERS marauded NE Alsea Bay on 9/14 (KM). A female HOODED MERGANSER
occupied Eckman Lake as of 9/1 (JSi), and 14, including 4 adults and
several HY, were there as of 9/14 (KM).
* * * * * * * * * * *
DIURNAL RAPTORS - PLOVERS
An adult OSPREY sat in a spruce SW of Eckman Lake on 8/17; fledglings
have apparently now departed (SaL). On 9/1, JSi spotted 2 there, including
1 at the nest. An OSPREY hunted over the Ona Beach surf zone on 8/19 (TG),
and another flew over Sally's Bend on 8/24 (KM). A WHITE-TAILED KITE
hover-hunted W of the Yaquina Bay LNG tank in the 9/14 evening sun (KM).
2 kites sat on small spruces overlooking Alsea Bay just E of Eckman Lake on
9/18 & 19 (WH). An immature male NORTHERN HARRIER hunted low over Idaho
Flats on 8/24 (KM). A rare, large brown GRYFALCON was reported on 8/17 at
Seal Rock (fide HN).
On 8/29, EH found appropriately-named MOUNTAIN QUAIL on Table
Mountain. 3 AMERICAN COOTS fed in Eckman Lake on 9/14 (KM). 14
SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and at least 12 KILLDEER picked over Ona Beach on 8/19
(TG), and JSi, SF, JF, & JSu saw each there on 8/30. Idaho Flats hosted 3
Semipalmateds on 8/24 (KM).
* * * * * * * * * * *
SANDPIPERS
A MARBLED GODWIT flew N off Boiler Bay on 9/1 (PP). 15 WHIMBRELS
flew around Idaho Flats on 8/16 (MR), 2 bathed at Ona Beach on 8/19 (TG),
and JF saw 2 somewhere in Yaquina Bay on 8/30. 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS at
Eckman Lake on 8/17 (SaL) and 8/19 (TG) increased to 14 on 9/14 (KM);
3 were on Ona Beach on 8/19 (JSi, SF, JF, & JSu), and a LESSER YELLOWLEGS
visited Eckman Lake on 9/1 (JSi).
MR spotted a single WANDERING TATTLER and 11 BLACK TURNSTONES on 8/16
at Depoe Bay, BGPT saw a couple of tattlers at YBSJ on 8/30, and JB & QCN
saw tattlers, several dozen BLACK TURNSTONES, a dozen SURFBIRDS, and 2
dozen SANDERLINGS at YBSJ while fishing on 9/1, when a BLACK TURNSTONE and
3 SURFBIRDS flew S off Boiler Bay (PP). 2 RUDDY TURNSTONES turned up at
Ona Beach on 8/30 (JF, JSi, SF, JSu).
JF spotted a PECTORAL SANDPIPER at Ona Beach on 8/31. MR enjoyed an
intimate photo op with a WESTERN SANDPIPER in Yaquina Bay on 8/16; 20
Westerns along with 1 LEAST SANDPIPER visited Ona Beach on 8/19 (TG), a
lone Least picked items from Sally's Bend on 8/24 (KM), and both were
present at Ona Beach and Leasts at Idaho Flats on 8/30 (JF, JSi, SF, JSu).
6 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS visited Eckman Lake on 8/17 (SaL).
3 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER juveniles were in Idaho Flats and 1 at Ona Beach
on 8/30 (JF plus JSi, SF, JSu), and 6 dowitcher sp. one-leg-rested in
Eckman Lake on 9/14 (KM).
Many RED-NECKED PHALAROPES fed in tide rips while heading S off Depoe
Bay on 8/16 (TG), as did many more off Depoe Bay on 8/17 (DT), 2 visited
Ona Beach on 8/19 (TG), 3 swam the channel west of YBSJ on 8/26 (CP) as did
4 on 9/1 (JB & QCN), and some were at Ona Beach on 8/30 (JF, JSi, SF, JSu).
BGPT noted RED PHALAROPES off Newport on 8/30 and counted 7 on 8/31. Over
100 phalarope sp. flew S off Boiler Bay on both 9/1 and 9/13 (PP), 3 flew S
off Lost Creek on 9/14 (KM), and over 400 flew S off Boiler Bay on 9/17
(PP).
* * * * * * * * * * *
JAEGERS - GULLS
A SOUTH POLAR SKUA hung low over the boat off Newport for 30 sec on
8/30 (GG of BGPT). A light phase POMARINE JAEGER flew S 3 mi off Boiler
Bay on 8/17 (DT). 5 LONG-TAILED JAEGERS and 2 PARASITIC JAEGERS appeared
to BGPT off Newport on 8/30, as did 2 Parasitics on 8/31 (BGPT), and
2 Parasitics were off Boiler Bay on 9/13 (PP).
On 8/24 in Sally's Bend, 5 multi-aged BONAPARTE'S GULLS each selected
a hollow in the rippled mud, thoughtfully "marched in place" using a
paddling motion for 30 sec, and then bent down to retrieve food from the
affected area, and continuously repeated this sequence (KM). At times,
4 nearby adult MEW GULLS and 15 CALIFORNIA GULLS inconsistently copied the
Bonaparte's. At Wandemere on 8/28, Californias also exhibited this
"marching in place" behavior (RC). 6 adult and 1 immature Bonaparte's
picked over the Sally's Bend mudflats on 9/14 (KM), and 3 HY Bonaparte's
were off Boiler Bay on 9/17 (PP).
6 HEERMANN'S GULLS roosted on Ona Beach on 8/19 (TG), 2 flew N off
Lost Creek over the surf on 8/24 (KM), BGPT counted 36 off Newport on 8/30
(JSi, JF, JSu, SF); off Boiler Bay, 2 flew N on 9/1 followed by 20 on 9/13,
100 fed on 9/17, and over 500 fed while trending N on 9/18 (PP). On 9/14,
3 adults flew N off Lost Creek, and off Seal Rock, a phalanx of 90
struggled, broke, circled, and reflocked against the N wind (KM).
At least 5 HERRING GULLS flew N off Boiler Bay on 9/17 (PP), and on
8/27, a 2nd-yr Herring visited the YBSJ "gull puddle." 9 CALIFORNIA GULLS,
including 3 HY, were found dead along 4.6 miles of beach near Thiel Creek
in August (B&SLo, LO, SB). 50 Californias gathered on Ona Beach on 8/19
(TG), 270 (80% adults) flocked in Idaho Flats as did 185 in Sally's Bend on
8/24, and on 9/14, 250 were in Idaho Flats and 110 in Sally's Bend (KM).
Off Boiler Bay, California numbers peaked on 9/18, when over 300 flew N.
An adult RING-BILLED GULL hover-fished over Idaho Flats on 8/24 (KM); 1
flew N off Boiler Bay on 9/13 (PP), and on 9/14, Idaho Flats numbers had
increased to 30 (KM). 5 MEW GULLS foraged in Sally's Bend and 2 in Idaho
Flats on 8/24, where 6 Mews rested on 9/14 (KM); another was off Boiler Bay
on 9/18, as were 2 SABINE'S GULLS on 9/1, a HY Sabine's on 9/17, and 3
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES on 9/13 (PP).
* * * * * * * * * * *
TERNS - ALCIDS
1 adult and 1 HY molting COMMON TERNS roosted in Idaho Flats on 8/30
(JSi, SF, JF, & JSu). TG saw 8 tern sp. (Commons or ARCTIC TERNS) fly S
3 mi off Depoe Bay on 8/16, BGPT saw 2 off Newport on 8/30, and PP saw 1
off Boiler Bay on 9/13; DT saw some 3 mi off Depoe Bay on 8/17 and also
described an ELEGANT TERN from the same trip. 1 adult and 2 HY CASPIAN
TERNS landed at Ona Beach on 8/19 (TG), 2 flew off Boiler Bay (PP) and
6 flocked at the Alsea Bay mouth on 9/1 (JSi), and 2 more were off Boiler
Bay on 9/17 (PP).
18 COMMON MURRES, including 16 HY, along with 1 RHINOCEROS AUKLET,
were found dead along 4.6 miles of beach near Thiel Creek in August (B&SLo,
LO, SB). 180 murres rafted off Lost Creek on 8/24 (KM), and Boiler Bay
numbers peaked at 200 on 9/1, declining to 10 on 9/18 (PP). Here's an edit
to August's field notes: 2 PIGEON GUILLEMOTS were found dead near Thiel
Creek in June (B&SLo, LO, SB) - NOT 12, as stated. Thanks, BLo, for the
correction. 6 PIGEON GUILLEMOTS at YBSJ on 8/24 retained breeding plumage
(KM). BGPT counted 18 guillemots off Newport on 8/30; 160 off Boiler Bay,
including many HY, moved steadily N on 9/1, followed by 20 on 9/13 (PP),
1 HY drifted off Seal Rock on 9/14 (KM), and singles were off Boiler Bay on
9/17 and 9/18 (PP).
2 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS were off Depoe Bay on 8/16 (TG, DT), 1 dove in
the YBSJ channel and 3 flew S off Lost Creek on 8/24 (KM), BGPT counted
6 on 8/31, and 3 were off Boiler Bay on 9/1, followed by 2 on 9/18 (PP).
At least 3 CASSIN'S AUKLETS were off Depoe Bay on 8/16 (DT, TG), and off
Newport, BGPT counted 168 on 8/30 and 50 on 8/31 (GG). A TUFTED PUFFIN
flew over BGPT's boat 15 miles off Newport on 8/31, and 1 was off Boiler
Bay on 9/1 (PP). 6 breeding-plumaged MARBLED MURRELETS paired off Lost
Creek on 8/24 (KM), 9 were off Depoe Bay on 8/16 (TG), 8 in winter plumage
paired off Seal Rock on 9/14 (KM), and 6 were off Boiler Bay on 9/18 (PP).
* * * * * * * * * * *
PIGEONS - SWALLOWS
MOURNING DOVES frequented DG's Toledo yard all summer through at
least 8/20. BB sighted her first Yachats yard MOURNING DOVE on 8/17, and
3 ground-fed under RC's Wandemere feeder from mid-Aug through at least
9/20. A flock of 400 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS working over the chittum
(Cascara) trees at Thornton Creek on 9/17 was moved about by a
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK; DF hadn't seen this many Band-taileds in one flock for
a number of years.
A Waldport citizen brought a juvenile SPOTTED OWL to RL (USFWS,
HMSC), who facilitated its journey to Chintimini Wildlife Center in
Corvallis for rehabilitation. It was a "very docile bird, but obviously
stressed," wrote RL. On 8/15, WH saw 2 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS call while
flying S high over the Newport Airport, "pausing occasionally to dive and
zwoosh," and he heard 2 more. VAUX'S SWIFTS flew over DG's Toledo yard on
8/20 and HMSC on 9/9 (EH).
P&BW summed up the hummingbird situation the best of anyone: "This
year is noted for the influx of the most RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS we have ever
seen here" in Tidewater as of 8/18. On 8/22, PL saw a WESTERN KINGBIRD on
the edge of the Idaho Flats marsh. On 8/15, STELLER'S JAYS were part of an
amazingly diverse flock hawking flying termites at the Newport Airport (WH;
see more below).
SaL watched BARN SWALLOWS and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS swoop after
insects over Eckman Lake on 8/17. BARN SWALLOWS had nearly finished
raising a second brood in DG's Toledo yard on 8/20. In their 2nd nest
inside RC&WN's Wandemere garage, all 4 BARN SWALLOW eggs hatched, all 4 HY
fledged on 8/29 and began flying lessons, which 2 survived. The last one
said goodbye at sunset on 9/10, and then they were gone. 2 HY PURPLE
MARTIN called and landed on Idaho Flats pilings on 8/16 (MR); EH saw 40 all
in the air at once over Yaquina Bay on 8/22; maybe they were expressing
their gratitude for EH's tireless of supplying of martin nest boxes along
much of the Oregon coast. EH's late date observation for martins was 8/29
on Table Mountain.
* * * * * * * * * * *
THRUSHES - FINCHES
DF saw a MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD at Thornton Creek on 8/27 and notes that
there are only a handful of records for Lincoln County. PP saw an
AMERICAN PIPIT at Boiler Bay on 9/1, CP saw 5 at the YBSJ on 9/5, and again
at Boiler Bay, PP saw 3 on 9/13 and 5 on 9/17. On 8/15, CEDAR WAXWINGS
hawked termites at the Newport Airport (WH), a small band visited Eckman
Lake on 8/17 (SaL), and on 8/18, these opportunistic omnivores arrived in
Tidewater for their yearly feast of Cascara berries (P&BW).
WILSON'S WARBLERS were also among several species hawking termites at
the Newport Airport on 8/15 (WH). SaL spotted a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT at
Eckman Lake on 8/17 (SaL), and EH noted Wilson's, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS,
and HERMIT WARBLERS on Table Mountain on 8/29.
A male WESTERN TANAGER shared Cascara berries in P&BW's Tidewater
yard on 8/18, and an adult female and 2 HY visited DG's Toledo yard on 8/20
along with a SPOTTED TOWHEE and DARK-EYED JUNCOS. SONG SPARROWS also
hawked termites at the Newport Airport on 8/15 (WH). On 8/15, BB found a
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK suffering from what she judged (from her nursing
experience) to be a tumor; the bird was starving, and it died. On a
happier note, many Black-headeds live on, including those in DG's Toledo
yard on 8/20. PURPLE FINCHES remained in DG's Toledo yard as of 8/20. EH
saw RED CROSSBILLS on Table Mountain on 8/29, and JSi, SF, JF, and JSu
spotted more at South Beach on 8/30. PINE SISKINS visited DG's Toledo yard
on 8/20. EVENING GROSBEAKS and JSi enjoyed each other at Eckman Lake on
9/1.
OBSERVERS: Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Bird Guide Pelagic Trip
(= BGPT; 8/30: Perpetua Bank; 8/31: Stonewall Bank), Sara Brown,
Jeff Brubaker, Rebecca Cheek, Seth Factor, Darrel Faxon, Joe Fontaine,
Greg Gillson, Dawn Grafe, Troy Guy, Wayne Hoffman, Eric Horvath,
Steve Kupillas, Janet Lamberson, PL, Sally Lockyear (SaL),
Bob & Shirley Loeffel (B&SLo), Roy Lowe, Dave Pitkin, Kathy Merrifield,
Harry Nehls, Walt Nelson, Quinton T Nice, Laimons Osis, Chuck Philo,
Phil Pickering, Mitch Ratzlaff, Al Rice, Jamie Simmons (JSi),
John Sullivan (JSu), David Tracey, Heather and Thomas Wainwright,
Pat & Bunny Wright.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BIRD FIELD NOTES from the October 2003 Sandpiper 24(8)
by Kathy Merrifield
Abbreviations, terms, 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, Bird Guide web site for
information about pelagic trips, Eckman Lake: lake 2 mi
east of Waldport along Hwy 34, Eckman Slough=slough between Alsea Bay and
Eckman Lake, fide: reported to, Fox Creek: 2 mi S of Seal Rock SP on U. S.
101, HMSC: Hatfield Marine Science Center, HY: hatch-year (bird that
hatched in YEAR), Idaho Flats: large embayment just east of HMSC, Lost
Creek SP: part about 4.75 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge, NWR: National
Wildlife Refuge, OBOL=Oregon Birders On Line, Ona Beach: state park about 6.6 mi south of
Yaquina Bay bridge along Hwy 101 at Beaver Creek, Perpetua Bank: undersea
elevation (hill) 32 miles W of Yachats, pochards: bay ducks, genus Aythia;
Sallys Bend: large embayment east of the LNG tank at Yaquina Bay, Thiel
Creek: creek about 3.5 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge, Tidewater: about 8
mi east of Waldport, USFS: US Forest Service, Wandemere: about 0.5 mi north
of Ona Beach along Hwy 101, YBCBC: Yaquina Bay Christmas Bird Count, YBSJ:
Yaquina Bay South Jetty.
* * * * * * * * * * *
LOONS - GREBES
PP seawatched off Boiler Bay an average of 1.6 hours on each of
3 days; loon numbers there peaked on 10/14, when 60 RED-THROATED LOONS,
100 PACIFIC LOONS, and 30 COMMON LOONS flew S. Off Wandemere on 9/28,
15 Pacifics and 4 Commons joined WH's bottom fishing trip, and off Boiler
Bay on 10/12, WH saw 6 Pacifics fly S. On 9/28, 60 mixed-plumaged Red-
throateds rafted off Seal Rock, surrounded by about 30 mixed-plumaged
PACIFIC LOONS (KM). Generous scatterings of loons flew S off several
points on 9/28, 10/12, and 10/14 (RC, WH). 2 PACIFIC LOONS were found dead
along 4.6 miles of beach near Thiel Creek in September (B&SLo, LO, SB).
JSi saw 4 PIED-BILLED GREBES in Eckman Lake on 9/21; by 9/28, there
were 7 there, including 2 adults & 2 HY; another winter adult swam in Idaho
Flats (KM). Meanwhile, back at Eckman Lake on 10/12, KM counted 6 HY Pied-
billeds. On 9/28 in Sally's Bend, 4 HORNED GREBES retained the dregs of
breeding plumage, but a RED-NECKED GREBE there wore complete winter plumage
(KM). 3 Red-neckeds flew S off Boiler Bay on 10/14, and 1 at YBSJ on 10/18
still showed a reddish neck (YBNFT). 55 WESTERN GREBES occupied Depoe Bay
on 10/4 (LC), BGPT counted 26 at sea on 10/4 (GG), WH spotted 2 off Boiler
Bay on 10/12, and RC noted several off Wandemere on 10/14, the same day
20 flew S off Boiler Bay (PP).
* * * * * * * * * * *
TUBENOSES
BGPT counted 30 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES and 195 NORTHERN FULMARS
during their 10/4 Heceta Bank trip (GG); of 4 fulmars off Boiler Bay,
1 flew within 100 m of shore on 10/12 (WH), the same day PP saw over 200
fly S there. Fulmars continued S there at 2-4/min from 10/15-18 (PP).
On 9/19-20, through clear air over flat water, RC and WN saw over
5000 SOOTY SHEARWATERS feeding off Wandemere; a river of hundreds/min close
to the surf there continued N from 9/23 through 9/25 (RC), numbers off
Boiler Bay peaked on 9/21, when over 2000 flew N (PP), WH saw over 2000
while bottom fishing off Wandemere on 9/28, KM estimated an instantaneous
count of 4300 circling southward off Seal Rock on 9/28, and BGPT counted
2769 on their 10/4 Heceta Bank trip (GG). A tight flock of over 700 SOOTY
SHEARWATERS parked off the Newport jetties from 10/1-5, feeding on
anchovies; "the water [there] was a dark rusty-orange, thanks to a large
growth of plankton, no doubt feeding those anchovies," wrote GG. WH saw 12
Sooties off Boiler Bay on 10/12. 2 Sooties were found dead along 4.6 miles
of beach near Thiel Creek in September (B&SLo, LO, SB). PINK-FOOTED
SHEARWATER numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 9/21, when over 50 flew N with
Sooties (PP). 10 were at sea off Wandemere on 9/28, along with 4 BULLER'S
SHEARWATERS (WH), and BGPT saw 107 Pink-footeds and 40 Buller's during
their 10/4 Heceta Bank trip (GG). A MANX SHEARWATER was reported from
Boiler Bay September 25 (fide HN).
BGPT counted 2 FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS on 10/4, and on 10/17, a
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel flew between the Yaquina Bay jetties (WH).
* * * * * * * * * * *
PELICANS - HERONS
6 BROWN PELICANS flew S off Wandemere on 9/23 (RC), WH saw 15 at sea
off Wandemere on 9/28, numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 10/14 at 300 (PP),
and YBNFT saw 8 adults at YBSJ on 10/18. WH saw over 200 BRANDT'S
CORMORANTS fly N as he fished off Wandemere on 9/28 and saw 250 fly S off
Boiler Bay on 10/12.
Last month, several observers reported a GREAT BLUE HERON in Yaquina
Bay emitting a nearly continuous, high-pitched squawk reminiscent of a
WESTERN GULL alarm call. The only reports since 9/10 of this heron were on
9/23 & 10/21, when TW again heard and saw the heron flying over Idaho
Flats. JSi saw 5 GREAT EGRETS in Idaho Flats on 9/20 and 1 in Eckman Lake
on 9/21. On 9/28, 22 GREAT BLUE HERONS and 7 GREAT EGRETS condensed along
the sand island upstream from McKinley Marina in upper Alsea Bay; 85 Great
Blues and 38 GREAT EGRETS gathered in Sally's Bend that day (KM). On 10/4,
LC saw 5 Great Blues on Siletz Bay NWR mudflats and 5 Great Blues and 13
GREAT EGRETS in Idaho Flats. 1 egret remained in Eckman Lake on 10/12
(KM).
* * * * * * * * * * *
GEESE - WOOD DUCKS
On 9/20, 40 CANADA GEESE were in Idaho Flats (JSi, TS), and 25 flew
over Eckman Lake on 9/21 (JSi), and 26 Canadas were on Siletz Bay NWR
mudflats on 10/4 (LC). A flock of 150 Aleutian Canadas flew high over the
Wandemere surf zone on 10/8, and 2 flocks followed on 10/14 (RC). Also on
10/14, widely spaced groups of about 400 Aleutians totaling 3100 flew S off
Boiler Bay (PP). On 10/16, 50 Aleutians flew over PP's Lincoln City house
1/4 mi inland, and a tight group of 190 Aleutians grounded in Siletz Bay
that day increased to 310 on 10/17 (PP); DP noted a few Cacklers among them
on 10/18. On 10/19, RC, KS & WN found 101 Aleutians and 14 Cackling
Canadas resting in Bayview Pasture and wondered if the 25% lacking white
necklaces were HY. Also on 10/19, RC, KS & WN found a lone Cackling
(little larger than the female WOOD DUCK sitting next to it) and several
Westerns at Eckman Lake.
BGPT counted 250 BRANT during their Heceta Bank trip on 10/4, and
700 flew just over the waves off Wandemere on 10/14 (RC). On 9/28, 1
immature GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE visited Eckman Lake, and an immature
and an adult mingled with Western Canadas in Idaho Flats (KM).
JSi spotted a female WOOD DUCK in Eckman Lake on 9/20, and on 9/28,
2 breeding-plumaged males practiced courtship near 1 adult and 4 HY
females.
* * * * * * * * * * *
DABBLING DUCKS - MERGANSERS
Males among the 35 GREEN-WINGED TEAL in Eckman Lake on 9/28 were in
eclipse, but males among the 12 there on 10/12 neared breeding plumage
(KM); 10 flew S off Boiler Bay on 10/14 (PP). 85 MALLARDS in Eckman Lake
on 9/28 included about 30 males in eclipse, but all males among 65 there on
10/12 had regained breeding plumage; the heads of 30 in Idaho Flats and 17
in Sally's Bend that day were under water (KM). On 10/4, LC saw 55
MALLARDS in Siletz Bay NWR and several in Idaho Flats. 15 NORTHERN
PINTAILS graced Eckman Lake on 9/21 (JSi). Pintails molted later than
other dabblers: males among 24 in Eckman Lake were in or near eclipse on
9/28, males among 13 there on 10/12 were still far from breeding plumage,
as were males among 22 in Idaho Flats that day (KM). LC saw Pintails there
on 10/4, and 15 flew S off Boiler Bay on 10/14 (PP). On 9/28, 7 AMERICAN
WIGEONS fed in Eckman Lake and 80 flocked in Idaho Flats, where many males
neared breeding plumage (KM). On 10/4, LC noted 70 Americans at Siletz Bay
NWR, on 10/12, 550 occupied Idaho Flats (KM), and on 10/14, 7 flew S off
Boiler Bay (PP). 1 HY or eclipse male EURASIAN WIGEON joined Americans in
Idaho Flats on 10/12, and YBNFT spotted 2 Eurasians there on 10/18. 4 male
CINNAMON TEALS flew S together off Boiler Bay on 10/14 (PP).
8 RING-NECKED DUCKS in Eckman Lake on 9/21 (JSi) increased to 14 on
10/12, when males wore complete breeding plumage (KM). 9 scaup sp. flew S
off Boiler Bay on 10/12 (WH), followed by 30 on 10/14 (PP).
10 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were at Seal Rock on 9/20 (JSi), and a female
joined 5 males at YBSJ on 10/18 (YBNFT). 2 LONG-TAILED DUCKS flew S with
scoters off Boiler Bay on 10/14 (PP). 600 Scoters, mostly SURF SCOTERS,
rafted off Seal Rock on 9/28, the same day 30 Surfs and 60 White-wingeds
joined WH at sea off Wandemere on 9/28. Scoter numbers off Boiler Bay
peaked on 10/14, when over 7000 Surfs, over 500 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, and
7 BLACK SCOTERS flew S; RC's Wandemere scope picked up over 2000 of PP's
Surfs as they continued southward that day.
At Idaho Flats on 9/28, 2 COMMON MERGANSERS in female-type plumaged
peered into the water below, and LC saw 5 in Siletz Bay on 10/4. A male
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER had arrived in Idaho Flats by 10/12 (KM), and PP saw
2 fly S off Boiler Bay on 10/14. JSi saw HOODED MERGANSERS in Eckman Lake
on 9/21, and males among the 13 there on 9/28 and 24 on 10/12 practiced
courtship behavior.
* * * * * * * * * * *
HAWKS - PLOVERS
JSi saw 4 TURKEY VULTURES on the Alsea Bay mudflats just east of the
Hwy 101 bridge on 9/21 after spotting 2 WHITE-TAILED KITES at Idaho Flats
on 9/20. Another kite flew over Idaho Flats on 9/30 and the next few days
(JL), RF and CG saw a hunting kite over Idaho Flats on 10/14, and another
perched and hovered there in strong wind on 10/18 (YBNFT). 1 BALD EAGLE
existed at Idaho Flats on 9/20 (JSi), and YBNFT enjoyed one on a piling
there on 10/18.
In late September, a ROCK PIGEON on P&BW's roof was scared away by a
MERLIN chasing a sparrow. A MERLIN visited EH's South Beach home on 10/7,
CP saw one at 5 Rivers on 10/3 and another in Toledo on 10/8, and YBNFT saw
one flying over HMSC on 10/18. MN had a close encounter with a PEREGRINE
FALCON in front of his windshield on 10/1; "Thank goodness for a slow VW
bus," he wrote. JSi saw a Peregrine in Yaquina Bay on 9/20, and BGPT
another on 10/4 (GG), and WH saw 1 at Boiler Bay on 10/12.
On 10/20, up to 11 cute, plump little MOUNTAIN QUAIL strutted around
B&PW's Tidewater yard. AMERICAN COOTS were present in Eckman Lake on 9/21
(JSi).
On 9/20, JSi saw SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and KILLDEER at Bayshore Beach
and 2 in Eckman Slough, and LC saw 3 Semis and 6 Killdeer on the Siletz Bay
NWR mudflats on 10/4 (LC). 16 KILLDEER flocked in Eckman Lake on 9/21 and
18 dispersed in Bayview Pasture on 10/12 (KM), the same day 2 joined WH in
the Boiler Bay parking lot. LC counted 66 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS at Siletz
Bay NWR on 10/4. JSi and TS spotted an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER in Idaho
Flats on 9/20.
* * * * * * * * * * *
SANDPIPERS
Seal Rock hosted 3 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS on 9/20 (JSi), and Depoe Bay
hosted 5 on 10/4 (LC). A MARBLED GODWIT probed the Idaho Flats mud on
10/12 (KM); one roosted among a flock of Pintails there on 10/18 (YBNFT).
A WHIMBREL visited Seal Rock on 9/21 (JSi). JSi saw 15 GREATER YELLOWLEGS
in Eckman Lake on 9/21, where 12, including several HY with deceptively
short bills flocked on 9/28 (KM); 1 was at sea off Newport on 10/4 (BGPT).
LC saw 3 WILLETS and 18 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS at Siletz Bay NRW on 10/4;
2 Dowitcher sp. perforated Idaho Flats on 9/28 (KM), as did 1 at Bayview
Pasture on 10/19 (RC, KS & WN). 1500 Calidris sp., probably WESTERN
SANDPIPERS, occupied Siletz Bay NRW on 10/14 (LC). 25 flocked Western or
LEAST SANDPIPERS cruised around Idaho Flats on 9/28 (KM), 2 SANDERLINGS
joined about 100 Westerns and 10 Leasts on Bayshore Beach on 9/20 (JSi).
On 9/21, a flock of 30 SANDERLINGS hunkered out of sand blown by 25 mph
wind near the Wandemere-Beaver Creek beach foredune; another flock lower on
the beach ran and probed as usual (BL). RED-NECKED PHALAROPES and RED
PHALAROPES were off Newport on 9/20 (fide HN); BGPT counted 4 Red-neckeds
and 7 Reds during their Heceta Bank trip on 10/4 (GG), over 50 Reds fed
close to the Boiler Bay shore on 10/14 (PP); several, probably Reds,
visited the YBSJ channel on 10/17 (WH), and several more visited both upper
and lower Yaquina Estuary on 10/18 (YBNFT).
* * * * * * * * * * *
JAEGERS - TERNS
A SOUTH POLAR SKUA was off Newport on 9/20 (fide HN), and on 10/4,
BGPT counted 4 skuas, 4 POMARINE JAEGERS, and 32 PARASITIC JAEGERS.
11 gulls, including 2 WESTERN GULLS, 2 CALIFORNIA GULLS, and
7 juvenile gull spp., were found dead along 4.6 miles of beach near Thiel
Creek in September (B&SLo, LO, SB). On 10/14, 18 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, mostly
HY, flew S off Boiler Bay (PP). JSi saw 61 HEERMANN'S GULLS at Seal Rock
on 9/20, WH saw over 200 at sea off Wandemere on 9/28, and a sustained
flight of 800 flew S off Boiler Bay on 10/14, when over 150 GLAUCOUS-WINGED
GULLS flew S off Boiler Bay (PP). 2 HERRING GULLS were at sea off Newport
on 10/4 (BGPT/GG), 3 were off Boiler Bay on 10/12 (WH), and at least 10
flew S off Boiler Bay on 10/14 (PP). Over 500 CALIFORNIA GULLS were at sea
off Wandemere on 9/28 (WH), 135 dispersed over Idaho Flats on 9/28 (KM), as
did 1100 on 10/12 (KM), and 35 were at sea off Newport on 10/4 (BGPT/GG).
Off Boiler Bay, over 7000 swirled S between the cove and the foam lines and
around the point on 10/14 (WH), and in Lincoln City, PP saw "a pretty good
mostly California gull movement just inland on 10/18." JSi saw a RING-
BILLED GULL in Idaho Flats on 9/20, 370 mostly adult and subadult Ring-
billeds diffused along the big Alsea Bay island up from McKinley Marina on
9/28, and 15 were dotted among the Californias in Idaho Flats on 10/12
(KM); and LC saw Ring-billeds in Depoe Bay on 10/4. 2 MEW GULLS were at
sea off Wandemere on 9/28 (WH); BGPT counted 10 in and near Yaquina Bay on
10/4 (GG), and 1 Mew in Sally's Bend on 9/28 had attracted 29 more by
10/12, the same day a HY Mew hovered over group-fishing HOODED MERGANSERS
in Eckman Lake before dropping in and catching its own big fish (KM) and
12 flew S off Boiler Bay (WH). 14 Mews flew S off Boiler Bay on 10/14, as
did 25 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES (PP). BGPT saw 9 SABINE'S GULLS at sea off
Newport on 10/4 (GG).
2 COMMON TERNS joined WH as he bottom-fished off Wandemere on 9/28,
BGPT saw 2 ARCTIC TERNS during their 10/4 Heceta Bank pelagic trip (GG),
and 8 Common-sized terns flew S off Boiler Bay on 10/12 (WH). 1 adult
followed by 1 begging HY CASPIAN TERN flew over Idaho Flats at dusk on
10/12 (KM).
* * * * * * * * * * *
ALCIDS - HUMMINGBIRDS
4 murre chicks and 2 PIGEON GUILLEMOT chicks were found dead along
4.6 miles of beach near Thiel Creek in September (B&SLo, LO, SB). Over
300 COMMON MURRES along with 60 PIGEON GUILLEMOTS joined WH at sea off
Wandemere on 9/28; At sea, JSi saw some off Newport on 9/21 and BGPT saw 2
on 10/4 (GG); WH saw 1 at Boiler Bay on 10/12, YBNFT saw 1 in winter
plumage in the YBSJ channel, and 4 were on the water at Boiler Bay on 10/14
(PP). A pair of ANCIENT MURRELETS swam in the Yaquina Bay channel mouth on
10/4 (BGPT/GG). JSi saw MARBLED MURRELETS at sea off Newport on 9/20, 4
Ancients and 30 Marbleds joined WH during bottom fishing off Wandemere on
9/28, the same day at least 6 Marbled pairs were visible among precipitous
crests off Seal Rock (KM), and 4 pairs flew N off Boiler Bay on 10/14 (PP).
1 CASSIN'S AUKLET and 1 adult RHINOCEROS AUKLET were found dead along 4.6
miles of beach near Thiel Creek in September (B&SLo, LO, SB), and JSi saw
Cassin's at sea on 9/20. WH saw 1 Cassin's at sea off Wandemere on 9/28,
and BGPT saw 346 at sea off Newport on 10/4; 1 flew S off Boiler Bay on
10/18 (PP). JSi saw RHINOCEROS AUKLETS at sea off Newport on 9/20, PP saw
a one at Boiler Bay on 9/21, WH saw 20 at sea off Wandemere, and BGPT
counted 422 at sea on 10/4, along with 4 TUFTED PUFFINS (GG).
A ROCK PIGEON seemed tame as it happily accepted cracked corn at
P&BW's Tidewater home on 9/30 (but see under MERLIN above); there's a large
resident pigeon flock at Taylor's Landing in Tidewater, says BW. Up to 2
MOURNING DOVES remained at Fox Creek as of 10/15 (MN).
A male and female ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD took up residence at the Filby
Hummingbird Ranch in Newport on 9/21 (RF); BO saw an Anna's in N Newport on
10/9. CP saw a male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD at his Toledo home on 10/4; this
may be our second latest date for them, says RB.
* * * * * * * * * * *
WOODPECKERS - WRENTITS
A PILEATED WOODPECKER flabbergasted RC&WN by flying over their
Wandemere yard on 9/21. BW was surprised while hanging up the wash in
Tidewater on 9/30 when a noisy male Pileated landed on a pole next to her.
A Pileated visited EH's South Beach house on 10/1. BW saw 3 Pileateds on
10/13 on her way to the paper box on 10/13. Several times last summer, a
female HAIRY WOODPECKER clung to MN's window feeder, repeatedly flying to a
nearby shore pine and to deposit sunflower seeds in the bark. A male Hairy
regular at WN&RC's Wandemere feeders through October repeatedly took seeds
to a specific crack in a wooden post, jammed the seed into the crack,
whacked it till it split, picked out the kernel and tidily cleaned the
crack so it was ready for the next trip (RC).
P&BW's Tidewater STELLER'S JAY population has increased to 6 as of
9/30, and MN's Fox Creek Steller's numbers were increasing as of 9/30; a
SCRUB JAY joined them there on 10/16. KM watched crows produce pellets and
re-ingest the good parts at the SMV pullout at the south end of Seal Rock
on 10/12, which induced her to begin the diet she'd been contemplating for
months.
WINTER WRENS and WRENTITS sang at Eckman Lake on 9/21 (JSi); and at
South Beach in early October, WRENTITS sang a lot while lots of RUBY-
CROWNED KINGLETS moved into the neighborhood (EH).
* * * * * * * * * * *
THRUSHES - WARBLERS
A jewetti race HERMIT THRUSH, which lacks the typical highly
contrasting reddish rump and tail of most Hermits, flew into a window at
PP's Lincoln City home on 10/19; see OBOL for discussion. A VARIED THRUSH
appeared in RF's Newport yard on 10/6, and at Fox Creek, MN first heard
Varieds on 10/14.
Lone AMERICAN PIPITS were at Boiler Bay on 9/21 and 10/14 (PP), and a
flock of 30 highly probable Americans intrigued RC, KS & WN at Bayview
Pasture on 10/19. 20 CEDAR WAXWINGS flocked through Fox Creek on 10/7
(MN).
What a great month for warbler tales! On 9/30, 5 of the large flock
of TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS visiting P&BW's Tidewater yard cleaned up in the
bird bath while others remained as they were in the vine maple above it.
EH noted 2 Townsend's and a BLACK-THROATED GRAY warbler in his South Beach
yard on 10/3. On 10/4, a NASHVILLE WARBLER and 2 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS
joined BGPT 20 mi out of Newport; one Yellow-rumped traveled out to 60
miles but when returning left the boat 45 mi from shore. During the same
10/4 trip, a female COMMON YELLOWTHROAT fell exhausted between birders'
feet on the deck about 55 miles out; it flew overboard, but fell, floating
tail-high in the sea. It was scooped out of the brink, given sugar water,
and kept in a lunch sack until sailors, both people and birds, reached the
shore (GG). A PALM WARBLER at HMSC on 10/5 (GG) remained near the Nature
Trail fence through 10/19 (RC).
* * * * * * * * * * *
SPARROWS - FINCHES
9/25; on 10/2, one with a quarter-sized white patch around its left
eye provided an example of leucism, many moved into the South Beach area in
early October (EH), and at Fox Creek, a few scratched up needles looking
for food on 10/12 (MN). On 9/21, JSi found a SAVANNAH SPARROW at the S end
of the Alsea Bay bridge and SONG SPARROWS and about 10 WHITE-CROWNED
SPARROWS in Waldport. Several juvenile GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS arrived in
RF's Newport yard on 10/6, and several Golden-crowneds mixed with WHITE-
CROWNED SPARROWS at YBSJ on 10/18 (YBNFT). The first DARK-EYED JUNCOS of
fall arrived at RF's Newport seaside yard on 9/28.
On 10/19, 6 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS flew together over Bayview Pasture
(RC, KS & WN). P&BW were about to take down their Tidewater thistle feeder
when a large flock of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, including breeding-plumaged
males, appeared on 9/28. BW figured they were tanking up for the winter, a
worthy practice for any species as the autumn daylight dwindles.
OBSERVERS: Range Bayer, Bird Guide Pelagic Trip, Sara Brown, Lori
Cain, Rebecca Cheek, Roy Filby, Greg Gilson, Cathy Grimm, Wayne Hoffman,
Eric Horvath, Janet Lamberson, Bob & Shirley Loeffel, Kathy Merrifield,
Harry Nehls, Walt Nelson, Michael Noack, Bob Olson, Chuck Philo, Phil
Pickering, David Pitkin, Jamie Simmons (JSi), Tom Snetsinger, Kit
Struthers, Tom Wainwright, Pat & Bunny Wright, Yaquina Birders and
Naturalists Field Trip (YBNFT, led by Bob Olson).
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BIRD FIELD NOTES from the November 2003 Sandpiper 24(9)
by Kathy Merrifield
Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations: Bayview
Pasture: field east of junction of Beaver Creek Road and North Alsea Bay
Road, Beaver Creek: creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park, Bird Guide
web site for info about pelagic trips, CDFG: California
Dept of Fish and Game; Eckman Lake: lake 2 mi east of Waldport along Hwy
34, Eckman Slough=slough between Alsea Bay and Eckman Lake, fide: reported
to, Fox Creek: 2 mi S of Seal Rock SP on U. S. 101, HMSC: Hatfield Marine
Science Center, HY: hatch-year (bird that hatched in YEAR), Idaho Flats:
large embayment just east of HMSC, Lost Creek SP: part about 4.75 mi south
of Yaquina Bay bridge, Nute Slough: freshwater slough at about mile 9.3
along north Yaquina Bay Road, OBOL=Oregon Birders On Line, OCA: Oregon Coast Aquarium,
Olalla Slough: slough E of Toledo meandering S into Yaquina Bay, Ona Beach:
state park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along Hwy 101 at Beaver
Creek, pochards: bay ducks, genus Aythia, Sallys Bend: large embayment
east of the LNG tank at Yaquina Bay, Spanish Head: small headland in S
Lincoln City, Thiel Creek: creek about 3.5 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge,
Tidewater: about 8 mi east of Waldport, USFS: US Forest Service, YBSJ:
Yaquina Bay South Jetty, Yaquina John Point: point near Hwy 101 and just
south of Waldport.
* * * * * * * * * * *
LOONS - SHEARWATERS
PP seawatched from Boiler Bay an average of 1.9 hrs on each of 15
days and from Spanish Head an average of 1.3 hours on each of 3 days. On
11/20, RED-THROATED LOON numbers there peaked at over 20,000 as did PACIFIC
LOON numbers at 10,000 (as well as 120,000 probable-Pacifics but possible-
Red-throateds); COMMON LOON numbers there peaked on 11/6, when over 500
flew S, and a YELLOW-BILLED LOON appeared there on 10/30 (PP). WH joined 4
Pacifics and 18 Commons off South Beach on an 11/1 fishing trip, and he saw
80 Pacifics and 20 Commons fly S off Boiler Bay on 11/15, along with 500
loon spp.
Off Boiler Bay, WESTERN GREBE numbers peaked on 11/6, when most of
over 800 swam N), and RED-NECKED GREBE numbers peaked on 11/20, when 25
flew S; a CLARK'S GREBE was there on 11/6 (PP). OFOBW saw a Clark's there
on 10/26. YBNFT spotted Red-neckeds in Yaquina Bay on 10/18. 170 Horneds
splashed in the hollows of low-tidal Sally's Bend on 10/26 (KM), where
several gathered on 11/1 (SASFT). 2 EARED GREBES at Eckman Lake on 10/26
retained vestiges of breeding plumage (KM). SASFT saw several Eareds at E.
Devils Lake State Park on 11/1.
110 NORTHERN FULMARS were found dead along 4.6 miles of beach near
Thiel Creek in October; daily counts were 4 on 10/12, 7 on 10/18, 12 on
10/19, 7 on 10/25, 6 on 10/26, and 74 on 10/31 (B&SLo, LO, SB). Off Boiler
Bay, fulmar peaks included over 7,000 flying N on 10/31, 5,000 flying all
directions on 11/11, and over 4,500 flying S on 11/17 (PP). A fisherman
reported dead fulmars "all over the beach" on 10/30 to Roy Lowe, who'd
received other west coast dead fulmar reports. Off South Beach on 11/1,
fishing WH had a sea-level view of over 600 eating sea nettles. DF spotted
many fulmars off Lost Creek on 11/2. SH of CDFG said on 11/3 that
innumerable emaciated carcasses on beaches from Monterey, CA to Newport, OR
are the fruit of a massive NORTHERN FULMAR die-off. Meanwhile, 750
fulmars/15 min streamed S off Spanish Head on 11/4 (PP) as did 3,000 off
Boiler Bay on 11/15 (WH) and another 4,000 off Boiler Bay on 11/20 (PP).
SOOTY SHEARWATER numbers off Boiler Bay peaked at over 3,000 flying
in varying directions on 10/28 (PP). PP noted 1 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER off
Boiler Bay on 10/22, 4 on 10/27, 1 on 10/28, 2 on 10/30, 1 on 11/20, and 1
off Spanish Head on 11/1. A probable MANX SHEARWATER (but maybe BLACK-
VENTED SHEARWATER) flew S off Boiler Bay on 10/27 (PP), a Manx flew N there
on 10/31 followed by another on 11/6 (PP); DF spotted a Manx flying N off
Lost Creek on 11/2. At least 2 SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATERS flew S off Boiler
Bay on 10/28, and lone BULLER'S SHEARWATERS flew S there on 11/9 and 11/12
(PP).
* * * * * * * * * * *
PELICANS - HERONS
380 BROWN PELICANS festooned Seal Rock sea stacks and water on 10/26
(KM), 160 rested on Salishan Spit on 10/30 (PP), on 10/31, 148 littered the
Yaquina Bay jetties and adjacent channel (CP), where 30 remained on 11/1
(WH); 330 roosted on Salishan Spit on 11/2 followed by 100 there on 11/4
(PP), and large numbers continued on Seal Rock (WH, WHa) and the Yaquina
jetties (TW) on 11/5. About 50 pelicans occupied all roostable surfaces
between the Yaquina jetties on 11/3 (LH), 200 settled on the north spit of
Alsea Bay on 11/5 (BC); by 11/8, these and 150 more had moved south to
Yaquina John Point (SaL), the same day BW saw about 200 in Alsea Bay. On
11/15 at YBSJ 1st finger, a raft of over 700 formed an adults-only
gathering; only 8 immatures crashed the party, but WH was not close enough
to see any etchings or anything. Pelican numbers off Boiler Bay reached
peaks of over 700 flying N on 10/28 followed by over 900 on 10/30 and over
800 flying S on 11/6 (PP). Copious southward pelican flight continued off
Yachats through at least 11/13 (BB).
In fall, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS imitate geese by migrating S in
lines and Vs near the shoreline; accordingly, 2 lines of 200-400 flew S off
SW Newport on 10/23 (RB). 60 flew S off Boiler Bay on 11/15 (WH). 1,400
BRANDT'S CORMORANTS flew N off Boiler Bay on 11/13 followed by over 1,500
on 11/20 (PP).
16 GREAT EGRETS joined at least 40 GREAT BLUE HERONS in Sally's Bend
on 10/26 (KM). 2 GREAT EGRETS remained in Eckman Lake on 11/9 (SaL), the
same day a SNOWY EGRET joined several Greats at the Toledo Boat Ramp (CP).
The Snowy remained through at least 11/22, when it again joined several
Greats was on the bay side of Nute Slough (CP). One GREAT EGRET in the
Nute Slough salt marsh gripped a gopher or vole until a RED-TAILED HAWK
swooped down and stole it. The high-pitched squawking Great Blue observed
in Yaquina Bay since 9/1 flew and called in the SW bay on 10/18 for YBNFT
(BO). TW saw and heard this squawking heron at HMSC on 10/21 when it
called while flying NE across Idaho Flats from near OCA.
* * * * * * * * * * *
SWANS - POCHARDS
4 probable TUNDRA SWANS flew E over Toledo on 10/30, emitting a
mellow "whooing" call (CP). A TUNDRA SWAN flew over E. Devils Lake State
Park on 11/1 (SASFT).
138 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew S over the Newport Safeway on
10/21, perhaps considering a spot of shopping, and on 11/6, 6 White-
fronteds joined ducks in Olalla Slough (CP). A CANADA GOOSE hybrid with
either a White-fronted or a barnyard goose joined 100 large Canadas in
Bayview Pasture on 10/23; the hybrid was large--Canada-sized, but its neck
was thicker and the same color as the breast, and head markings were more
diffuse (RC). At least 50 Semidi Islands Aleutian CANADA GEESE arrived at
a Pacific City (Tillamook Co.) dairy on 10/26 (fide Roy Lowe, DP). On
10/27, DP and Roy Lowe counted 24 small Canadas, mostly Aleutians and a few
Cacklers, in the meadow S of Rock Creek managed for Silver Spot butterflies
by USFS. Roy Lowe and DP had never seen the geese there before. In
Yachats, Canadas still flew S as of 11/13 (BB).
Males among 18 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 30 MALLARDS, 12 NORTHERN PINTAILS,
and 43 AMERICAN WIGEONS in Eckman Lake on 10/26 had regained breeding
plumage (KM); all continued there through 11/9 (SaL). Dabbling ducks fly
south over the ocean, too: off Boiler Bay, peak numbers included 50 GREEN-
WINGED TEAL, 100 Pintails, 30 AMERICAN WIGEONS, and 6 NORTHERN SHOVELERS on
10/30 and 6 MALLARDS on 11/1 (PP). Rufous heads and gray bodies of up to
2 EURASIAN WIGEONS broke the monotony of hundreds of Americans in Yaquina
Bay on 10/18 (YBNFT) and 11/1 (SASFT) and S Siletz Bay, also on 11/1
(SASFT).
A GREATER SCAUP was found dead along 4.6 miles of beach near Thiel
Creek in October (B&SLo, LO, SB), which, along with 150 scaup sp. flying S
off Boiler Bay on 10/30 (PP) reminded us of their ocean migration route.
21 RING-NECKED DUCKS, at least 11 LESSER SCAUP, and 1 male GREATER SCAUP
dove in Eckman Lake on 10/26, and many of the 110 LESSER SCAUP and 220
GREATER SCAUP rafting in Sally's Bend that day retained some eclipse
plumage (KM). Several Ring-neckeds continued at Eckman Lake on 11/9 (SaL).
6 GREATER SCAUP bobbed on the briny deep with WH as he fished off South
Beach on 11/1, the same day SASFT spotted an early CANVASBACK pair in E.
Devils Lake State Park.
* * * * * * * * * * *
SEA DUCKS - MERGANSERS
On 10/26, 32 SURF SCOTERS rafted and 250 flew S in 2 flocks off Lost
Creek, 800 in 11 flocks flew S over 300 rafting off Seal Rock, and 400
gathered in Sally's Bend, the same day a tight flock of 12 adult male BLACK
SCOTERS swam together in varying directions off Seal Rock (KM). WH fished
off South Beach on 11/1 under 200 Surfs and 150 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS flying
S, and on 11/5, about 150,000 Scoter spp. rafted off N Yachats (fide HN).
PP watched scoters fly S off Boiler Bay: Surf numbers peaked on 11/17 at
over 7,000, White-winged numbers on 11/3 at 300, and BLACK SCOTER numbers
on 10/24 at 15 or more. Yaquina Bay hosted 1 female and 5 male HARLEQUIN
DUCKS on 10/18 (YBNFT), a Harlequin and a LONG-TAILED DUCK joined south-
flying scoters at sea off Depoe Bay on 10/25 (DT), 5 male Harlequins flew
straight W off Seal Rock on 10/26 (KM), and off Boiler Bay, PP noted 8
Harlequins on 11/2 and single Long-taileds on 10/24, 10/27, and 10/28
followed by 5 on 11/6.
A pair of COMMON GOLDENEYES graced NW Sally's Bend on 11/1 (SASFT).
170 BUFFLEHEADS had arrived in Sally's Bend by 10/26 (KM); SaL noted some
in Eckman Lake on 11/9, and 50 flew both directions off Boiler Bay on 10/31
(PP).
At Idaho Flats on 11/1, SASFT observed HOODED MERGANSERS; PT wrote "3
males strutted their stuff for two females. The males would chase each
other around, pump their heads, lift their heads back, and vibrate their
lower mandibles, all in a rather agitated fashion, while making growling
noises. This seemed more oriented toward the other males than to the
females, who didn't seem that impressed, although they stuck around and
watched. This fits the descriptions [of] courtship behavior. Also present
were a male and female which seemed ... paired already. According to
Birds of Oregon: A General Reference, the initiation of pair-bonding in
Oregon is not documented" (it is now - KM), "but it begins by mid-November
in B.C." 30 Hoodeds occupied Eckman Lake on 10/26 (KM), and several were
there on 11/9 (SaL). Off Boiler Bay, 6 COMMON MERGANSERS flew N on 10/30,
and 1 was present on 10/31; RED-BREASTED MERGANSER numbers there peaked on
11/9, when 50 flew S (PP).
* * * * * * * * * * *
HAWKS
Single WHITE-TAIILED KITES were observed near Idaho Flats and the log
pond on 10/18 (YBNFT) and 10/19 (RB) and at Hwy 101 near the Siletz River
on 11/8 (MM); pairs were spotted at E. Devils Lake State Park on 11/1
(SASFT) and MP 9.6 along upper Yaquina Bay on 11/6 (Steve Kupillas).
Single BALD EAGLES frequented Yaquina Bay on 10/18 (YBNFT, SASFT), Boiler
Bay on 11/1 (SASFT), 11/8 (MM), and 11/15 (WH), and Yachats on 11/12 (BB);
LO saw a pair in a spruce along Beaver Creek on 10/24.
Hawk-eyed BB also saw a COOPER'S HAWK chasing a Bridge Pigeon (new
species?) over the Alsea Bay bridge on 10/28. Roy Lowe watched crows and a
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK alternately chase each other outside his HMSC office
window on 10/28-29. SASFT found a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK at E. Devils Lake
State Park on 11/1. On 11/2, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK perched in willows along
101 near Ona Beach (DF). For a RED-TAILED HAWK observation, see under
GREAT EGRET.
A MERLIN visited Yaquina Bay on 10/18 (YBNFT). A MERLIN perched
quietly in SaL's Yachats shore pine confirmed her suspicion during an 11/15
tweety-bird absence. On 11/1, a PEREGRINE FALCON gave SASFT a nice fly-by
before landing on the Yaquina Bay bridge; a Boiler Bay Peregrine buzzed
gulls on 11/8 (MM). An AMERICAN KESTREL was back on "its" power line 2.5
miles up N Beaver Creek on 11/4 (LO).
2 MOUNTAIN QUAIL visited BB's Yachats yard daily from 11/1 through at
least 11/20, and BLo saw 2 pairs near his home near the Newport Airport on
11/15. SASFT heard a VIRGINIA RAIL in E. Devils Lake State Park on 11/1.
57 AMERICAN COOTS swam in Eckman Lake on 10/26 (KM), and coots continued
there through at least 11/9 (SaL).
* * * * * * * * * * *
SHOREBIRDS - GULLS
A handful of SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS were observed in S Siletz Bay on
11/1 by SASFT - but then, how big are their hands? On 11/9, just after
high tide, BLo observed at least 12 KILLDEER in the road over a King Slough
inlet; BLo has seen larger numbers of KILLDEER there during previous
winters.
YBNFT spotted a MARBLED GODWIT in Yaquina Bay on 10/18 (BO), and
SASFT saw one in Idaho Flats on 11/1. A ROCK SANDPIPER appeared at YBSJ on
11/15 (fide HN). 4 GREATER YELLOWLEGS joined 12 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS in
Eckman Lake on 11/9 (SaL), the same day CP saw a WILSON'S SNIPE on the bank
of Sally's Bend. LO saw a snipe in his yard 5 miles up N Beaver Ck on 11/5
and 11/11. RED PHALAROPES visited Yaquina Bay on 10/18 (YBNFT), Reds'
numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 10/24 & 28, when at over 50 Reds flew S
(PP), and WH saw about 40 in and near the Yaquina Bay mouth and 2 RED-
NECKED PHALAROPES at sea during his 11/1 trip off South Beach, and SASFT
saw 2 Red-neckeds in S Siletz Bay. 4 phalaropes were found dead along 4.6
miles of beach near Thiel Creek in October (B&SLo, LO, SB).
14 BONAPARTE'S GULLS swam upstream in the Sally's Bend channel on
10/26 (KM), about 50 staged a feeding frenzy of Boiler Bay on 11/8 (MM),
and their numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 11/6 when over 9,000 flew N and
on 11/12, when over 12,000 flew S (PP). A 1st-winter FRANKLIN'S GULL flew
S off Boiler Bay on 10/27, followed by 2 separate basic adults on 10/28
(PP); another was observed off Boiler Bay on November 3 (fide HN).
HEERMANN'S GULL numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 11/17, when over 5000 flew
S (PP); WH saw 2,000 fly S there on 11/15, and on his way back south noted
250 on Beverly Beach and 100 on Moolack Beach. GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL
numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 11/17, when over 13,000 flew S (PP). A
first-winter GLAUCOUS GULL flew S there on 11/15 among 12,000 other large
gulls including CALIFORNIA GULLS, WESTERN GULLS, Glaucous-wingeds, HERRING
GULLS, and THAYER'S GULLS (WH). Among PP's counts, Herring numbers peaked
on 11/12 at over 1,200, Thayer's numbers on 11/12 at over 100, and MEW GULL
numbers on 11/2 at over 6,000; all flew S. On 11/15, WH watched 200
southward-tending Mews off Boiler Bay stop to feed. A gull flock grew on
Siletz Bay N spit: on 11/11, 3,000 Californias, 1,000 Herrings, and a few
Mews, Heermann's, and Glaucous-wingeds had arrived; by 11/13, 6,000
Californias, 2,500 Herrings, and several hundred each Glaucous-winged,
Western, Mew, and Heermann's were there (PP). On 10/26, a crisp, fresh
winter adult RING-BILLED GULL joined 8 large gulls on the Seal Rock beach,
and 55 Ring-billeds in the upper Alsea Bay channel joined 30 large gulls,
25 Californias, and 5 Mews (KM). BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE numbers off Boiler
Bay peaked on 11/20, when over 100 flew S (PP).
* * * * * * * * * * *
ALCIDS - THRUSHES
4 CASSIN'S AUKLETS and 3 murres were found dead along 4.6 miles of
beach near Thiel Creek in October (B&SLo, LO, SB). Off Boiler Bay, COMMON
MURRE numbers peaked on 11/20, when over 5,000 flew S (PP). At YBSJ on
11/15, DF noted a COMMON MURRE already in breeding plumage. Winter
plumaged PIGEON GUILLEMOTS were at YBSJ on 10/18 (YBNFT); 8 were at sea off
South Beach on 11/1 (WH), and up to 2 occurred on 6 days and 3 on 11/20 off
Boiler Bay (PP). 3 MARBLED MURRELETS bobbed off Lost Creek as did 4 off
Seal Rock on 10/26 (KM); 12 were at sea off South Beach on 11/1 (WH).
Marbled numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 10/31, when 10 flew N; 3 ANCIENT
MURRELETS and 2 CASSIN'S AUKLETS were there on 11/2 (PP). WH saw 3
Ancients and 2 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS at sea off South Beach on 11/1.
Rhinoceros numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 11/7, when 94 flew S (PP).
On 10/31, CP saw at least 14 MOURNING DOVES poking around at MP 5 of
Yaquina Bay Road (CP); this is the largest concentration that RB can recall
in Lincoln County. A BARRED OWL hooted again in October 5 in LO's yard 4
miles up N. Beaver Creek. At least 8 ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS arrived in BB's
Yachats yard as of 11/18. NORTHERN FLICKERS fed on homemade suet cakes in
BB's Yachats yard as of 11/2. (Of COURSE BB has a recipe for bird pudding!)
LO's Beaver Creek apple trees received visits from both PILEATED
WOODPECKERS and RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS several days in Oct. and on 11/11.
During the 10/25 OFOBW, RK et al. saw a HY NORTHERN SHRIKE at YBSJ.
RL couldn't use binoculars during an important phone call on 10/29 when a
shrike sp. landed outside his HMSC office window, but he suspected a
Northern. SASFT identified a NORTHERN SHRIKE along Sally's Bend on 11/1.
JL pledged to continue surveillance of a shrike sp. perched in an Idaho
Flats tree on 11/3. A shrike - possibly a Loggerhead - finialed an Idaho
Flats spruce on 11/5 (TW).
* * * * * * * * * * *
JAYS - FINCHES
A lone GRAY JAY ground-foraged about 5 miles up Drift Creek on 10/28
(DS). A MARSH WREN crept through the Salishan salt marsh on 11/1 (SASFT).
6 VARIED THRUSHES watched SaL walk her dogs in an alder thicket just above
the Cape Perpetua Visitors' Center on 11/2; another Varied ground-fed with
sparroids in BLo's yard near the Newport Airport on 11/13-15. On 11/5, a
HERMIT THRUSH accompanied "the usual gang" in LO's yard 4 mi. up N Beaver
Creek.
Several AMERICAN PIPITS visited the Seal Rock bluff on 10/5 (LO). An
AMERICAN PIPIT visited Boiler Bay on 10/24, followed by single BUFF-BELLIED
PIPITS on 11/6 and 11/7 (PP). Meanwhile, back at Beaver Creek, CEDAR
WAXWINGS worked on holly berries throughout Oct. (LO). A Slate-colored
DARK-EYED JUNCO joined the bird array in LO's yard 5 miles up N. Beaver
Creek on 11/5.
A WESTERN MEADOWLARK surveyed E. Devils Lake State Park from the top
of a 70-ft fir on 11/1 (SASFT), MN saw at least 10 meadowlarks near Fox
Creek on 11/6, and JL saw 3 from her HMSC window during shrike surveillance
on 11/7. CP has been seeing LESSER GOLDFINCHES regularly at San Bay-O
Circle in N Newport as recently as 10/31 (CP). EVENING GROSBEAKS showed up
in Toledo on 11/3 (CP), probably in the evening.
OBSERVERS: Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Sara Brown, Brent Campbell,
Rebecca Cheek, Darrel Faxon, Steve Hampton, William Hanshumaker (WHa),
Louise Hemphill, Wayne Hoffman, Ray Korpi, Janet Lamberson, Sally Lockyear
(SaL), Bob & Shirley Loeffel (B&SLo), Mike Marsh, Kathy Merrifield, Harry
Nehls, Oregon Field Ornithologists' Birding Weekend led by Ray Korpi
(OFOBW), Bob Olson, Laimons Osis, Chuck Philo, Phil Pickering, Dave Pitkin
of USFWS, Salem Audubon Society Field Trip led by PT (SASFT), Jamie
Simmons, David Smith, Pat Tilley, David Tracey, Tom Wainwright, Barbara
West, YBNFT led by BO.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BIRD FIELD NOTES from the December 2003 Sandpiper 24(10)
by Kathy Merrifield
Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations: Bayshore
Beach: ocean beach along north Alsea Bay Spit, Beaver Creek: creek flowing
through Ona Beach State Park, Bird Guide web site for information about
pelagic trips, Boone Slough: freshwater slough at about
mile 8.9 along north Yaquina Bay Road, Eckman Lake: lake 2 mi east of
Waldport along Hwy 34, Eckman Slough=slough between Alsea Bay and Eckman
Lake, fide: reported to, HMSC: Hatfield Marine Science Center, Idaho Flats:
large embayment just east of HMSC, NWR: National Wildlife Refuge, Nute
Slough: freshwater slough at about mile 9.3 along north Yaquina Bay Road,
OBOL=Oregon Birders On Line (recent postings at
http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html], OCA: Oregon Coast
Aquarium, Olalla Slough: slough E of Toledo meandering S into Yaquina Bay,
Ona Beach: state park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along Hwy
101 at Beaver Creek, Rock Creek SP: about 3 mi N of Otter Rock and 3 mi S
of Depoe Bay along Hwy 101, Sallys Bend: large embayment east of the LNG
tank at Yaquina Bay, Thiel Creek: creek about 3.5 mi south of Yaquina Bay
bridge, Tidewater: about 8 mi east of Waldport, USFWS: US Fish & Wildlife
Service, USGS: US Geological Service; Wandemere: about 0.5 mi north of Ona
Beach along Hwy 101, YBSJ: Yaquina Bay South Jetty.
* * * * * * * * * * *
SANDPIPER EDITOR'S NOTE by Range
Kathy, thanks for ably writing the "Bird Field Notes Column" for the
Sandpiper during 2001-2003! We appreciate your humor and efforts to make
the field notes interesting as well as informative! Great job!
Kathy will continue to write the "Other Nature Notes" column, but we
need someone to write the "Bird Field Notes" column--if interested, please
contact Range.
* * * * * * * * * * *
CORRECTION TO LAST MONTH'S FIELD NOTES
I am not aware of any corrections to the November 2003 field notes
that are not among the innumerable typographical errors and overlooked
conventions. At least 2 observers had full names in print because I
neglected to abbreviate them. Sorry - I was really in a hurry - and it
showed!
* * * * * * * * * * *
LOONS - ALBATROSSES
An ARCTIC LOON dove between the Yaquina Bay jetties on 11/22 and was
joined there by a PACIFIC LOON and a RED-THROATED LOON on 11/23 (WH). PP
seawatched off Boiler Bay for an average of 1.3 hours on each of 8 days: on
11/24, RED-THROATED LOON numbers peaked at 10,000 and PACIFIC LOON numbers
at 4000, and >15,000 also there were Pacific and/or Red-throated; all flew
S (PP). JF spotted 1 Red-throated and 8 Pacifics off Boiler Bay on 11/29.
A full breeding-plumaged COMMON LOON swam in Sally's Bend on 11/30 (KM).
A PIED-BILLED GREBE dove in Olalla Slough and 3 navigated Sally's
Bend on 11/30 (KM), more swam in Eckman Lake on 12/11 (Sal), and another
has been on the Alsea River near P&BW's Tidewater yard as early as 12/19.
YBNFT feasted their magnified eyes on HORNED GREBES, an EARED GREBE, a RED-
NECKED GREBE, and WESTERN GREBES off Wecoma Dock on 11/22, the same day
WESTERN GREBES posed offshore for YBNFT at Boiler Bay. JF saw at least 3
Red-neckeds in Yaquina Bay on 11/29, and up to 13 Red-neckeds were off
Boiler Bay on each of PP's 8 observation days there. Up to 4 Eareds, at
least 1 Red-necked, and at least 50 Westerns joined the Sally's Bend
assemblage on 11/30 (KM).
A satellite-tagged SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS, part of RS's OSU graduate
work, passed the Oregon central coast on 11/23 & 24 as it flew from
Vancouver Island towards S Oregon waters.
* * * * * * * * * * *
FULMARS - HERONS
NORTHERN FULMARS were the story of the month. Please keep in mind
the value of trends documented by long-term studies as a backdrop for
remarkable yet short-term events. BLo started a beached bird transect in
January 1978 along 4.6 miles of beach near Thiel Creek. During October-
December 2003, his team (which included SLo & LO) unofficially found 501
fulmars, almost 3 times as many beached fulmars as in any previous year.
Other beached bird teams have also found high numbers of fulmars from
beaches in British Columbia south into Mexico, but studies that have only
lasted a few years can not put this year into perspective; only long-term
studies, such as BLo's 26 year study can do so. Hopefully, BLo's and the
more recent beached bird surveys will continue for many years to come! On
Jan. 13 or later, see http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/fulmar.htm
(all lower case letters) for more information about the exceptional number
of beached fulmars this year.
YBNFT enjoyed a close fulmar pass at Boiler Bay on 11/22. After
reading copious reports of copious fulmars off her own coastal segment and
counting 16 fulmar carcasses on the beach near Beaver Creek, RC finally
nabbed a small flock for her Wandemere yard list on 11/28. JF saw 2
fulmars off Boiler Bay on 11/29. Fulmar numbers among PP's observations
off Boiler Bay peaked on 11/30, when most of >2000 flew S.
On 12/16, DL counted 42 fulmars on 4.2 beach miles from Seal Rock to
Alsea Bay, and the 6 best specimens were sent to the USGS National Wildlife
Health Center in Madison, WI. There, a pathologist found that all were
emaciated females and that 1 or more had pale oral membranes (1), fractured
ribs (1), pale kidneys (2), dilated and congested digestive tract (1),
moderate (2) to heavy (1) louse infestations, numerous small roundworms
(1), and negligible amounts (3) to about 20 grams (1) of plastic and wood
chips. Lab test results as well as any conclusions about cause(s) of death
are pending.
Up to 2 SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATERS sheared Boiler Bay waters on most of
PP's observation days there, and a lone, rare MANX SHEARWATER flew N there
on 12/1 (PP). 1 FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL was found dead along 4.6 miles of
beach near Thiel Creek in November (B&SLo, LO).
As of 12/19, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS had taken up their winter
stations on the Alsea River near P&BW's Tidewater yard. From 80 to 400
BRANDT'S CORMORANTS flew S off Boiler Bay on 6 of PP's 8 observation days.
On 11/22, BT, DM, and JH saw a SNOWY EGRET at Boone Slough. A GREAT
EGRET fished Nute Slough on 11/30 (KM), and another remained in Eckman Lake
through 12/11 (SaL).
* * * * * * * * * * *
WATERFOWL
About 40 BRANT hugged the Idaho Flats shoreline on 11/23 (SaL), Jamie
Simmons counted 84 in Idaho Flats on 1/27, JF counted 78 in Yaquina Bay on
11/29, and 83 roamed Sally's Bend in the 11/30 sunset (KM). 6 subadult
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE followed 23 Western CANADA GEESE from grass-
grazing to slime-slurping along Olalla Slough on 11/30 (KM).
2 male and 5 female MALLARDS displayed quintessential dabbling duck
courtship behavior in an Olalla Slough pond on 11/30 (KM). JF saw 5
EURASIAN WIGEON males in the big Yaquina Bay AMERICAN WIGEON flock on
11/29, JS saw 6 Eurasians in the same flock on 11/30, and 1 Eurasian joined
several Americans in Eckman Lake on 12/11 (SaL). 7 GREATER SCAUPS swam off
Wecoma Dock on 11/22 (YBNFT). JF saw 8 REDHEADS near Boone Slough on
11/29. GREATER SCAUPS plus LESSER SCAUPS totaled over 500 in Sally's Bend
on 11/30 (KM). A Greater was in Eckman Lake on 12/11, SaL.
2 HARLEQUIN DUCKS flew S off Boiler Bay on 11/22 (PP), a male was at
YBSJ on 11/29 (JF), JS counted 5 at Seal Rock on 11/30, and DP, MM & DtC
saw 1 or more on there on 12/11. YBNFT compared SURF SCOTERS, WHITE-WINGED
SCOTERS, and BLACK SCOTERS to score a scoter hat trick at Yaquina Head on
11/22. Off Boiler Bay, SURF SCOTER numbers peaked on 12/3, when 800 flew
S; 400 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS flew N there the same day, but their peak
numbers were on 12/6, when >1500 flew S, and BLACK SCOTER numbers there
peaked on 12/6, when 50 flew S (PP). 80 RUDDY DUCKS dispersed in Sally's
Bend on 11/30 (KM).
2 - 3 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS flew S off Boiler Bay on 11/22, 11/24,
and 11/25 (PP). Only 4 joined the 11/30 Sally's Bend flock (KM). Several
handsome pairs of COMMON MERGANSERS were on the Alsea River near P&BW's
Tidewater yard as of 12/19.
* * * * * * * * * * *
DIURNAL RAPTORS
JL watched an OSPREY - rare here at this time of year - hunt over the
east log pond near OCA on 12/15. JF saw a WHITE-TAILED KITE in the HMSC
area on 11/29; on 12/15, JL enjoyed 2 kites posing in Idaho Flats treetops
outside her HMSC office window. YBNFT spotted a male NORTHERN HARRIER at
Wecoma Dock on 11/22.
JS saw an immature BALD EAGLE at Alsea Bay on 11/30. The same day,
off Boiler Bay, a BALD EAGLE flew towards the shore carrying a light-morph
NORTHERN FULMAR (PP). On 12/20 in Tidewater, P&BW thought the BALD EAGLE
on top of a cedar tree next door imitated a Christmas tree star. A RED-
TAILED HAWK kited in Yaquina Head winds on 11/22 (YBNFT). On 12/5, MC
spotted the diagnostic red underwings of a juvenile RED-SHOULDERED HAWK as
it flew from a utility wire along Hwy 34 at Eckman Lake.
A taiga-form MERLIN loitered near Wandemere on 11/26, examining
RC&WN's yard from a perch. JF's heart skip a beat as an adult female
PEREGRINE FALCON winged by at eye level along Yaquina Bay on 11/29. JS saw
a Peregrine along Idaho Flats on 11/30. Sometimes while in the field, I
(KM) stumble across a "duck stamp scene" - a portrait of regal waterfowl or
resplendent raptors against panoramic sky, water, and marsh sharply defined
in the saturated colors of an overcast fall day. I imagined a duck stamp
scene while reading TW's 12/2 note: "Along the edge of Idaho flats near
the HMSC nature trail I came across a PEREGRINE FALCON sitting on a post
just above tide line. The flock of wigeons behind it spooked, after which
the Peregrine gave chase, passing through the flock several times without
catching anything. It then found an apparently injured wigeon in a pool
near the OCA and made three dives, striking but not capturing it. On the
fourth dive, it barely avoided colliding with a BALD EAGLE diving from the
opposite direction. After this, the falcon and eagle took off in opposite
directions, and I lost track of the falcon; the duck escaped. The eagle
took a smaller ... duck off the water a few minutes later with a 'stealth
attack' - flying low with wingtips hitting the water until about 6 ft from
the duck, then taking one wingbeat upward and dropping on it."
* * * * * * * * * * *
TURKEYS - SHOREBIRDS
On 11/22, BT, DM, and JH saw 40 WILD TURKEYS near Harlan. AMERICAN
COOTS remained in Eckman Lake through at least 12/11 (SaL). JS spotted a
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER in Idaho Flats on 11/27, and JF counted 10 in South
Beaver Ck on 11/29.
On 11/22, YBNFT had great views of BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS at Boiler
Bay, and Depoe Bay hosted about 12; JS saw 2 at Seal Rock on 11/30. A
LONG-BILLED CURLEW joined gulls on the N Siletz Bay spit on 12/1 (PP). A
MARBLED GODWIT waded in Idaho Flats on 11/30 (JS). JF saw 3 GREATER
YELLOWLEGS along South Beaver Ck on 11/29. A ROCK SANDPIPER joined about
80 SURFBIRDS, 5 SANDERLINGS, and 5 BLACK TURNSTONES at Seal Rock on 11/30
(JS). DP, MM & DtC watched a few WESTERN SANDPIPERS flock on a dock near
HMSC on 12/11. 70 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS probed South Beaver Ck on 11/29
(JF). On 11/24, a WILSON'S SNIPE stood right in front of her vehicle as
SaL drove into a Bayshore Beach parking space; in a minute or two, it
moseyed on into the dune vegetation. 3 snipes snuck around South Beaver
Creek on 11/29 (JF). 3 phalarope sp. were found dead along 4.6 miles of
beach near Thiel Creek in November (B&SLo, LO).
* * * * * * * * * * *
JAEGERS - GULLS
A tailless subadult POMARINE JAEGER flew S off Boiler Bay on 11/24
(PP).
7 gulls, all Western and Glaucous-winged except for a BLACK-LEGGED
KITTIWAKE, were found dead near Thiel Creek in November (B&SLo, LO). A
lone BONAPARTE'S GULL patrolled the Idaho Flats shoreline on 11/23 (SaL).
JF saw a 1st-winter Bonaparte's at Yaquina Bay on 11/29. Off Boiler Bay,
numbers of WESTERN GULLS peaked at 200 on both 11/30 & 12/1, GLAUCOUS-
WINGED GULLS at >1000 on 11/30, HERRING GULLS at 400 on both 11/28 & 11/30,
THAYER'S GULLS at >12 (10 on rocks) on 12/3, CALIFORNIA GULLS at >3000 and
MEW GULLS at >800 on 11/25, BONAPARTE'S GULLS at 30 on 11/24, and BLACK-
LEGGED KITTIWAKES at >300 on 12/3; most trended S (PP). In addition,
faraway clouds of large gull spp. totaling >10,000 drifted S over the
horizon off Boiler Bay on 12/1 (PP). PP observed 2 mixed Herring/Glaucous-
winged Gulls on the rocks, complete with swizzle sticks, at Boiler Bay on
12/3. A 1st yr GLAUCOUS GULL visited Yachats on 11/27 (AC & AS). Juvenile
Herring and Thayer's Gulls posed together at the D River parking lot in
Lincoln City on 12/5 (PP). JF saw 2 adult and 1 imm kittiwakes off Boiler
Bay on 11/29. On 11/27, several feeding gull flocks swarmed off S-central
Lincoln County and at least 3 fulmars and a few kittiwakes joined in; the
best viewing was off Rock Creek SP (AC & AS). PP watched the changing
composition of the N Siletz Bay spit gull flock from 11/28 - 12/3:
Herrings' maximum was 2500 on both 11/28 and 11/30, California's peak was
600 on 12/1 and Thayer's 30 the same day, Mew were highest on 11/28 at 200,
and just a few Westerns and Glaucous-wingeds were present throughout; by
12/3, remaining Herrings plus Californias totaled 800. On 11/28, a nice
mix of Westerns, Glaucous-wingeds and their hybrids along with Californias,
Herrings, and Mews, formed the backdrop for the Featured Gull of the YBSJ
puddle flock - -a 3rd winter Thayer's (RC). JF managed to identify Yachats
River mouth gulls on 11/29 as they were chased by dogs (KM's pet peeve,
although the peeve is with the owners rather than the pets): 80 Glaucous-
winged, 12 Mew, 3 Herring-type, and 1 California Gull demonstrated their
resilient response to human-supervised canine harassment.
* * * * * * * * * * *
ALCIDS - WOODPECKERS
2 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS and 9 CASSIN'S AUKLETS were found dead along
4.6 miles of beach near Thiel Creek in November (B&SLo, LO). Off Boiler
Bay, COMMON MURRE numbers peaked on 11/24 when >4000 flew S, up to 2 PIGEON
GUILLEMOTS were there on 5 observation days, 3 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS bobbed
off shore as did lone Rhinos on 2 other days; a CASSIN'S AUKLET appeared on
11/25, a pair of MARBLED MURRELETS flew S on 11/24, and single pairs of
ANCIENT MURRELETS flew S on 12/1 & 12/6 (PP).
Several ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS continued in BB's Yachats yard through at
least 12/15.
Here's a note about a bird that's NOT here: RC misses the red-&-
yellow-shafted intergrade NORTHERN FLICKER that had graced her Wandemere
yard over the 4 previous winters; he has not shown up this year. Maybe he
got the shaft. As RF has watched interspecific competition at feeders in
his coastal Newport yard, he has observed EUROPEAN STARLINGS chase away
NORTHERN FLICKERS, but Flickers never chase starlings; a male HAIRY
WOODPECKER chases the Flickers away or else wins standoffs, which is
surprising, due to its smaller size. P&BW had 2 good looks at a RED-
BREASTED SAPSUCKER this month, but the one on 12/19 was too close: it
resulted from a window hit, but the sapsucker recovered and flew away. In
addition, several PILEATED WOODPECKERS patrolled the Tidewater area as of
12/19 (P&BW).
* * * * * * * * * * *
SONGBIRDS
A NORTHERN SHRIKE foraged from power lines at the end of OSU HMSC
Drive Cul-de-sac on 11/22 (BT, DM, and JH). SaL saw a NORTHERN SHRIKE
dining atop an HMSC post on 11/23. JL saw another on 12/11 in an Idaho
Flats treetop.
SS and GC helped EH build martin boxes at South Beach on 11/22: the
3 constructed and painted 11 boxes. Thanks to EH for initiating and
maintaining these boxes and to SS and GC for helping him in this admirable
and successful effort to facilitate the exemplary PURPLE MARTIN population
along the shores Yaquina Bay.
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES are present all year in P&BW's Tidewater
yard, and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES had returned as of 12/19. A THRUSH
remained around P&BW's Tidewater carport as of 12/19, exhibiting the shape
and mannerisms of "the what? bird," except that it is silent--HERMIT
THRUSHES, not Swainson's Thrushes, are to be expected this time of year.
JS observed 2 AMERICAN PIPITS on the ground near HMSC buildings on
11/30.
On 11/21, a HARRIS' SPARROW visited a feeder south of Waldport (fide
HN). A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW occupied RC&WN's Wandemere yard from late
November through at least 12/12; another visited CP's Toledo feeder on
12/8.
A WESTERN MEADOWLARK frolicked on the rocky point at Boiler Bay on
11/22 (PP). JS saw another along Idaho Flats on 11/30.
The first PINE SISKIN in 18 months visited RF's coastal Newport yard
on 12/5.
AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES continued to attend LH's Nye Beach thistle
feeders daily as of 12/11, favoring thistle socks over screen feeders there
as of 12/13.
* * * * * * * * * * *
THANKS, EVERYONE!
It has been a tremendous pleasure to write the bird field notes for
the last three years. Along with the experience, I appreciate the
compliments as well as the constructive criticism I've received. Many of
the compliments are due to you, the submitters of this information, both
for the observations themselves and for your many instances of innovative
thinking and wording. I was not always as successful as I would have liked
in attributing incoming wisdom and humor to its true originators. I hope
I've kept you well and accurately informed, but of course the person who
learned the most from this endeavor was me.
I will continue to see you in future months in "Other Nature Notes!"
OBSERVERS: Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Gert Carey, Maxine Centala,
Rebecca Cheek, Dylan the Cairn (DtC), Alan Contreras, Roy Filby, Joe
Fontaine, Jeff Harding, Louise Hemphill, Wayne Hoffman, Eric Horvath,
Janet Lamberson, Dave Ledig (USFWS Refuge Manager), Sally Lockyear (SaL),
Bob and Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Don MacDonald, Mike McDermet,
Kathy Merrifield, Harry Nehls, Walt Nelson, Laimons Osis, Diane Pettey,
Chuck Philo, Phil Pickering, Shirley Schwartz, Jamie Simmons, Andrew
Spencer, Rob Suryan, Bill Thackaberry, Tom Wainwright, Pat & Bunny Wright,
Yaquina Birders and Naturalists' Field Trip (YBNFT), led by EH.
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