These field notes are from the Sandpiper, a publication of Yaquina Birders & Naturalists, Lincoln County, Oregon.
There is room here for only some of the many Lincoln County sightings posted to Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO), eBird.org or BirdNotes.net; or emailed, telephoned, or mailed to me. If the same date and number of birds of a species given in eBird.org are reported in OBOL, LCBNO, or BirdNotes.net, I will assume the eBird report is a duplicate and will use the other reports that give more details, including location and observer. Sightings that seem too questionable will not be included.
If you have any field notes to share, please email (range.bayer at gmail.com) or mail (P.O. Box 1467, Newport, OR 97365) them to Range Bayer by the 20th of the month.
Many Lincoln Co. birding sites are in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide.
Semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 are in 1995 Journal of Oregon Ornithology 4:395-543 that is archived at ScholarsArchive@OSU (http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070).
------------------------------- Month of Sandpiper, Volume 32 ------------------------------- January 2011 February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011
Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations (numbers refer to site numbers in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/): BEAVER CREEK (#78, in part): creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park that includes Beaver Creek State Natural Area (http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_261.php), BOILER BAY STATE WAYSIDE (#59): about 0.5 mi north of Depoe Bay, DEVIL'S PUNCHBOWL STATE NATURAL AREA (#63): south of Cape Foulweather, HMSC (#75): OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, LNG TANK: large green Liquefied Natural Gas tank on the north side of Yaquina Bay about 1.5 miles east of Yaquina Bay Bridge, ONA BEACH (#77): State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, SALLY'S BEND (#66): large Yaquina Bay embayment east of the LNG tank, YBSJ (#71): Yaquina Bay South Jetty, YAQUINA HEAD OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREA (#65): headland north of Newport (vehicle entrance fee, http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/yaquina/files/yh_passes.pdf).
The Yaquina Bay CBC was held on January 2 and the weather, though bone-chillingly cold in the morning, turned out to be bright and sunny for the entire day. We broke two count circle records this year! First, we had the greatest number of species ever reported at 137 which is one more than the previous record of 136 species seen during the 2004/2005 and 2008/2009 counts. Can we attribute it to the spread of the EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE (12 on the count)? We also had the highest participation ever this year with 34 people in the field and six on feeders for a combined total of 40 participants.
Highlights started with birds seen in the ocean, a combined total of 1,262 RED-THROATED LOONS were seen at Seal Rock and Yaquina Head and a whopping 132 ANCIENT MURRELETS were also tallied from these two locations--both are record highs for this count (YCBC-H).
There was also a high count of HORNED (116) and a record total of EARED (22) GREBES. A small group of BROWN PELICANS (12) were noted at SEAL ROCK. Overwintering BRANT totaled 170 and a few groups saw EURASIAN WIGEON. A single TUNDRA SWAN was discovered in the south part of the count circle and two groups viewed LONG-TAILED DUCKS (4) in the bay. A RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER was spotted along the Mike Miller Educational Trail. The RED-SHOULDERED HAWK that has been seen for weeks along the estuary trail at HMSC was still around. And last but not least, one observer tallied two AMERICAN DIPPERS to round out a fantastic day of birding on the Oregon coast.
Thanks so much to everyone who participated in the count. We sure hope to see you again for the 112th count.
Some previous Yaquina Bay CBC results are at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#ybcbc (YCBC-H).
A high count of 202 wintering Brant remained at Yaquina Bay embayments on 1/17 (RB).
A TUNDRA SWAN was discovered in the Beaver Creek area during the 1/2 YCBC and noted on 6 additional days through 1/28 (LO; WH; eBird). On 1/9, WH noted: "It is a Tundra Swan, but quite intermediate in some characters. First, it does have yellow spots in front of its eyes, on both sides, but they are extremely small - I think the smallest I have ever seen. Second, the shape of the edge of the feathering on the sides of the bill is kind of funky, but more like Tundra than Trumpeter. Third, the forehead feathering does not come to a point as it should in Trumpeter. And finally, as swans go, this bird does not look exceptionally big or long-bodied."
Waterfowl courtship displays and pairing occur at wintering areas, and on 1/2 at Sally's Bend, KM detected this among at least MALLARDS, AMERICAN WIGEON, CANVASBACKS, and GREATER SCAUP, with a pair of Mallards mating.
HARLEQUIN DUCKS were noted during 15 days at Yaquina Head in Dec. (BLM) and were widely reported in January with a total of 11 during the 1/2 YCBC.
LONG-TAILED DUCKS were observed only during the 1/2 YCBC and on 1/20 at Yaquina Bay (J&BC).
DI & SF found a male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE at north Siletz Bay on 1/16, where there were 2 males and 1 female on 1/20 (J&BC). WH discerned a male COMMON GOLDENEYE X BARROW'S GOLDENEYE at YBSJ on 1/9. A female Common Goldeneye lingering at a Thornton Creek pond between Toledo and Eddyville in early Jan. is a rarity for there (D&LF).
A female, rare KING EIDER was reported about a quarter mile off Boiler Bay on Dec. 17 (fide DR).
On 1/16, DI & SF saw 4-5 WILD TURKEYS about 1/4 mile west of the Benton/Lincoln County line on the north side of HWY 20. There have ODFW releases in that area, but reports of turkeys have been spotty, with our last records there in April and May 2006, when 1-2 were regularly seen standing along the roadside. Our last report in Lincoln County was in August 2009 near River Bend marina on Yaquina Bay, so Wild Turkeys are not often reported in Lincoln County. RB suspects that they are more common in east Lincoln County than our reports indicate because the June 2004 ODFW Management Plan for Wild Turkeys (http://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/management_plans/wild_turkey/) has a map on p. 24 that indicates that they occupy most of eastern Lincoln County. Unfortunately, the report does not give details about the location and date of ODFW releases.
NA discovered a possible, rare ARCTIC LOON near Yachats the last week of January; it has not been relocated.
WH found our only CLARK'S GREBE (1) at Yaquina Head on 1/1.
In Dec., 43 NORTHERN FULMARS were found dead along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO) for a Sept.-Dec. total of 281, the second highest since these surveys began in 1978 (the most was 505 during Sept.-Dec. 2003). The number of beached fulmars has increased in recent years, since the 5 largest yearly totals have occurred since 2002 (in decreasing order, 2003, 2010, 2007, 2005, and 2008).
In Dec. at Yaquina Head, BROWN PELICANS were common until 12/14, but there were none thereafter (BLM). A total of 12 were estimated during the 1/2 YCBC. Other Jan. reports include 2 on 1/8 flying south past Lincoln City (DV), 6 flying south on 1/9 past Depoe Bay (DS), 1 "approaching full breeding plumage" on the rocks at YBSJ on 1/9 (D&LF), and 2 on 1/25 at Boiler Bay (TJ).
1-2 GREAT EGRETS were noted during the 1/2 YCBC, at Beaver Creek on 1/20 & 28 (LO), near Devils Lake on 1/22 (DV), and near Siletz Bay on 1/29 (DV).
[Image Not Included: Roy Lowe's Jan. 30 photo of a Pelagic Cormorant near the Port of Alsea (Waldport). On close inspection, cormorants are not just a black bird, especially when they are illuminated like this. It shows some of the iridescent green body and purple neck colors of a "Violet-green Cormorant" that they once were known as (see Audubon's painting at http://web4.audubon.org/bird/boa/F41_G1e.html)! It also has the white flank patch for the breeding season; during the 1/22 YBNFT, a Pelagic at Devils Punchbowl was just starting to show the white patch but still had lots of dark feathers.]
Oregon Winter Raptor Surveys are a good relative index to the abundance of wintering raptors and are coordinated by the East Cascades Birds Observatory (www.ecbcbirds.org/Default.aspx?tabid=73).
The Lincoln Co. Raptor Coast Route is about 60 miles and runs along Hwy 101 from the north side of Alsea Bay to the Taft area of Lincoln City, with nearby inland valleys. It was completed in about 5 hours on 11/22 by WH, WN, & RC; on 12/23 by WN & RC, and on 1/22 by WH, WN & RC.
The Inland or Yaquina River-Siletz Raptor Route is about 66 miles long. It was done in 4.5 hours on 11/20 by CP & JL, 4.25 hours on 12/29 by JL & KL, and 4.75 hr on 1/25 by CP & JL.
This month, sunny weather graced both routes, resulting in about twice as many raptors as in December. Along the Coast, Bald Eagles were the most numerous with Red-tails a close second; Inland, Red-tails were the most abundant with White-tailed Kites a distant second. Kites have not been found during Coastal Routes this winter nor during the 1/2 YCBC.
-----------------------------------------
Coast Route |Inland Route
11/ 12/ 1/ |11/ 12/ 1/
Raptor 22 23 22 | 20 29 25
----------------------------------------
N. Harrier 2 0 0 | 0 0 1
Wh-t. Kite 0 0 0 | 3 0 5
Sharp. Hawk 0 0 0 | 0 0 0
Coop. Hawk 0 0 0 | 1 0 0
unk. accipit.0 0 0 | 0 0 1
R-shld. Hawk 1 0 0 | 0 0 0
R-tail. Hawk 8 6 11 | 7 8 17
B. Eagle ad. 6 3 13 | 2 4 4
" subadults 0 0 1 | 2 1 0
" unknown 1 0 0 | 0 0 0
Am. Kestrel 0 1 2 | 4 3 3
Peregrine F. 2 4 2 | 0 1 2
unk. raptor 0 0 0 | 0 1 0
RAPTOR SUM 20 14 29 | 19 18 33
D&LF viewed our only OSPREY at Devils Lake on 1/20.
A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was near the HMSC or an unspecified location during at 4 days in Jan. (WH; YCBC; ASLCFT; RL; eBird). ME espied a probable, rare ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK at Road's End in north Lincoln City on 1/13.
In Dec. at Yaquina Head, there was an AMERICAN KESTREL on 12/1&12 (BLM). In Jan., they were recorded during Raptor Routes and also on 1/1 & 2 (WH; YCBC; eBird). 1-2 MERLINS occurred during the 1/2 YCBC and at the HMSC on 1/24 (RL). PEREGRINE FALCONS were recorded during 8 days in Dec. at Yaquina Head (BLM) and during many observations in Jan.
12 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS flocked together at high tide on the rocky point at the south end of Devils Punchbowl State Natural Area during the 1/22 YBNFT. If you see concentrations of 10 or more anywhere along the Oregon Coast, please email oystercatcher researcher Elise Elliott-Smith (eelliott-smith@usgs.gov).
The single WHIMBREL noted during the 1/2 YCBC was our only report.
Our high count of SANDERLINGS was about 100 that LO discovered on the beach north of Thiel Creek (about 3.5 miles south of the Yaquina Bay Bridge) on 1/23. They used to be much more numerous in winter, and there was only a total of 15 during the 1/2 YCBC.
On 1/23, MB commented that she recently had seen many small shorebirds on the sand beach below Newport's Shilo Inn in the night lights. In past winters, RB noted Sanderlings at night there, so small shorebirds may regularly be using light cast on the beach by the motels in that area.
Our only ROCK SANDPIPERS (4) and RED PHALAROPES (2) were found during the 1/2 YCBC.
A first-year gull was swimming in a submissive posture and giving begging calls to an adult WESTERN GULL near a channel marker where they nest just west of the Yaquina Bay Bridge on 1/29 (RB). In several minutes of observation, the adult did not feed the young bird and tried turning away from it. Unlike gulls nesting at Yaquina Head that appear mostly to go elsewhere during the nonnesting season, gulls nesting in Yaquina Bay seem to remain near their nesting area throughout the year (probably because food is available nearby), so they may have a much harder time getting away from their offspring than if they departed the area. For more info about variation in Western Gull post-fledging care of their young, see http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Condor/files/issues/v088n02/p0194-p0199.pdf
Dead alcids in Dec. along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach included 4 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, 3 CASSIN'S AUKLETS, 3 COMMON MURRES, and 2 ANCIENT MURRELETS (B&SLo, L&VO).
The most abundant live alcids in Jan. were COMMON MURRES (954) during the 1/2 YCBC, and they were also reported to eBird on 1/16 and near Seal Rocks on 1/20 (LO). PIGEON GUILLEMOT records included 2 on the 1/2 YCBC, 1 at Boiler Bay on 1/6 (EH), and 1 on 1/27 (eBird).
ANCIENT MURRELETS were frequently noted, with a high total of 132 at Seal Rock and Yaquina Head during the 1/2 YCBC. Our only MARBLED MURRELETS (42) were also tallied during the YCBC. RHINOCEROS AUKLETS included 2 during the 1/2 YCBC and 3 on 1/16 (eBird).
ROCK PIGEONS continue to be the most common and numerous pigeon in winter, but a record 12 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were noted during the 1/2 YCBC--they were first recorded during the YCBC last year (YCBC-H) and were also noted during the rest of the month (PR; WH; eBird). Our only MOURNING DOVES (8) were found during the 1/2 YCBC.
A BARRED OWL was at Yaquina Head on 12/11 (BLM), and a BARN OWL was discovered during Count Week for the YCBC.
The 9 GRAY JAYS during the YCBC is a record high--the previous high was 6 and they had been only recorded in 10 of 37 counts (YCBC-H). MH saw a flock of 6 Gray Jays that first appeared on 1/11 along south Yaquina Bay Road and were feeding on a compost pile, where robins and other birds also fed on worms and insects. BB commented on 1/28 that 4-6 Gray Jays continued to be regularly at her Yachats feeders.
We had only 3 reports of swallows, but any swallows in January are unusual. On 1/4, 3 BARN SWALLOWS were reported to eBird; on 1/8, LO had good scope views of 3 CLIFF SWALLOWS and a probable Barn Swallow at Beaver Creek; and, on 1/20, ME found 2 Barns at the YBSJ.
6 CEDAR WAXWINGS graced the 1/2 YCBC; a maximum of 15 had been only present in 6 of 37 previous counts (YCBC-H).
On 1/24, JR wrote: "for the last week I've been seeing a solitary female TOWNSEND'S WARBLER eagerly taking black oil sunflower seed from my feeder [in north Newport]. It's the first time I've seen a warbler take seed." RB searched authoritative Townsend's Warbler species accounts in Birds of Oregon: A General Reference, Birds of North America (BNA), Cornell Lab of Ornithology's www.AllAboutBirds.org, and Seattle Audubon's BirdWeb.org, but none mentioned Townsend's eating seeds. However, in a Google search for "Townsend's Warbler seeds," there are several reports, with South Dakota Birds and Birding (http://www.sdakotabirds.com/species/townsends_warbler_info.htm) noting "Diet: Primarily feeds on insects and spiders. They will also occasionally feed on seeds, berries, and nectar, especially during the winter."
Our only WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS (2) were recorded during the 1/2 YCBC--on past CBC's, the maximum was 4, and they were found in 16 of 37 counts (YCBC-H). LESSER GOLDFINCH was identified during YCBC Count Week, and no others were reported; however, they are uncommon to rare in winter as they were observed in only 4 of 37 previous Counts (YCBC-H).
[Image Not Included: Dawn Villaescusa's photo of a Great Egret in the marsh near East Devil's Lake Road on 01-22-2011. The whole photo is at http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af261/villaesc/Birds/IMG_2994_1.jpg]
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Noah Arthur, Audubon Society of Lincoln City (http://www.lincolncityaudubon.com/) field trip (ASLCFT) led by DD, Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Maryann Bozza, BirdNotes.net, Birds of North America Online (BNA)(http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/), Bureau of Land Management staff and volunteers at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area (BLM), Jim & Becky Carlson, Rebecca Cheek, Dick Demarest, eBird.org (location and observer not accessible), Mark Elliott, Darrel & Laura Faxon, Shawneen Finnegan, Dawn Grafe, Wayne Hoffman, Mary Holbert, Eric Horvath, Dave Irons, Tim Johnson, Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LCBNO/), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Kathy Merrifield, Walt Nelson, Field Notes (FN; Lincoln County records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are searchable at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#recent), Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Chuck Philo, Paul Reed, Jim Rice, Douglas Robinson, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive@OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Don Stein, Dawn Villaescusa, Yaquina Bay CBC (YCBC) compiled by DG, YCBC-H (some of historical records for the YCBC at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/yaquina-bay-cbc.pdf), Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (http://yaquina.info/ybn/) Field Trip (YBNFT) led by RB.
Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations (numbers refer to site numbers in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/): BEAVER CREEK (#78, in part): creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park that includes Beaver Creek State Natural Area (http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_261.php), HMSC (#75): OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of the HMSC, LNG TANK: large green Liquefied Natural Gas tank on the north side of Yaquina Bay about 1.5 miles east of Yaquina Bay Bridge, ONA BEACH (#77): State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, SALLY'S BEND (#66): large Yaquina Bay embayment east of the LNG tank, YBSJ (#71): Yaquina Bay South Jetty, YAQUINA HEAD OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREA (#65): headland north of Newport (vehicle entrance fee, http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/yaquina/files/yh_passes.pdf).
BLo began surveys in 1978 along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach. In 2010, surveys were conducted by B&SLo, L&VO, and BO, and they found a total of 669 birds. The top 3 species that accounted for 78% of the total were NORTHERN FULMARS (358), COMMON MURRES (101), and RHINOCEROS AUKLET (61). The fulmar total was the second highest yearly total. Only 1 SOOTY SHEARWATER was found, a record low for that species. BROWN PELICANS (7) were a record high. The rarest species was a HORNED PUFFIN in November.
YB&N is a project partner of the International Brant Monitoring Project (IBMP) (http://www.padillabay.gov/brant/), and RB relays on sightings of significant numbers of Brant in Lincoln County to their Observation Log (see link on the left side of their web page).
[Image Not Included: Dawn Villaescusa's Feb. 15 photo of Black Brant near the salt marsh by the HMSC Nature Trail. They're waiting for the tide to recede, so they can feed on native eelgrass or algae. See http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af261/villaesc/Birds/]
Counts of Brant at Yaquina Bay mostly by RB. The first were found on Nov. 5, and the high count has been 238 (2/10; SS). The first Brant appeared west of the Yaquina Bay Bridge on 2/10 (SS). This shows the typical pattern of a few Brant arrivals followed by increasing numbers to a plateau of overwintering birds.
250- 238--X
225- X
200- X X X X
175- XXX X X X X
150- XX XXX X X X X
125- XXX XXX X X X X
100- XXX XXX X X X X
75- XXX XXX X X X X
50- X XXX XXX X X X X
25- X XXX XXX X X X X
1-12- XX XXX XXX X X X X
0-X XX XXX XXX X X X X
|''''|''''|''''|''''|''''|''''|'''
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr
2010 ---------|---2011----------
A TUNDRA SWAN lingered to at least 2/11 at Seal Rock Stables along South Beaver Creek (LO).
1-2 EURASIAN WIGEON were noted at Sally's Bend on 2/5 (K&JF, UK), Idaho Flats on 2/8 (SD), and Beaver Creek during the 2/19 YBNFT as well as at undisclosed locations during 4 other days (eBird) in Feb.
HARLEQUIN DUCKS were at Yaquina Head 9 days in Jan. (BLM). In February, the high count was 15+ at Yaquina Bay on 2/8 (SD), and there were also 5 other reports (LO; DV; eBird).
4-5 LONG-TAILED DUCKS at Yaquina Bay on 2/5 (K&JF, UK) was the high count, and there were 3 more observations (JJ; eBird).
A BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was at Yaquina Bay on 2/19 (JJ) and at an unrevealed location on 2/20 (eBird).
Our only report of BROWN PELICANS was an unknown number at Newport on 2/10 (MW), so their unusual abundance and frequency in Jan.-April 2010 has not continued early this year.
3 MOUNTAIN QUAIL lingered at BB's feeders in Yachats on 2/5.
GREAT EGRET sightings included 1 at Alsea Bay on 2/3 (RC), 3-4 at Beaver Creek on 2/13 & 19 (LO; YBNFT), and 2 at undisclosed locations on 2/12 &17 (eBird).
Oregon Winter Raptor Surveys are a good relative index to the abundance of wintering raptors and are coordinated by the East Cascades Birds Observatory (www.ecbcbirds.org/Default.aspx?tabid=73).
The Lincoln Co. Raptor Coast Route is about 60 miles and runs along Hwy 101 from the north side of Alsea Bay to the Taft area of Lincoln City, with nearby inland valleys. It was completed in about 5 hours on 11/22 by WH, WN, & RC; on 12/23 by WN & RC, on 1/22 by WH, WN & RC; and on 2/19 by WN, WH, & RC.
The Inland or Yaquina River-Siletz Raptor Route is about 65 miles long. It was done in 4.5 hours on 11/20 by CP & JL, 4.25 hours on 12/29 by JL & KL, 4.75 hr on 1/25 by CP & JL, and 4.5 hr on 2/10 by CP & JL.
This month, RED-TAILED HAWKS were the most abundant raptor along the Inland Route with WHITE-TAILED KITES a distant second. Along the Coast Route, Bald Eagles were most abundant with Red-tails second. A record high 3 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS were found along the Coast Route.
-----------------------------------------
Coast Route |Inland Route
11/ 12/ 1/ 2/ |11/ 12/ 1/ 2/
Raptor 22 23 22 19 | 20 29 25 10
----------------------------------------
N. Harrier 2 0 0 2 | 0 0 1 0
Wh-t. Kite 0 0 0 0 | 3 0 5 4
Sharp. Hawk 0 0 0 1 | 0 0 0 0
Coop. Hawk 0 0 0 0 | 1 0 0 1
unk. accipit.0 0 0 0 | 0 0 1 0
R-shld. Hawk 1 0 0 3 | 0 0 0 0
R-tail. Hawk 8 6 11 8 | 7 8 17 15
B. Eagle ad. 6 3 13 11 | 2 4 4 0
" subadults 0 0 1 5 | 2 1 0 0
" unknown 1 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0
Am. Kestrel 0 1 2 0 | 4 3 3 2
Peregrine F. 2 4 2 0 | 0 1 2 0
unk. raptor 0 0 0 0 | 0 1 0 0
RAPTOR SUM 20 14 29 30 | 19 18 33 22
RC discovered our first TURKEY VULTURE on 2/11 near Ona Beach. There were 5 other coastal reports (TS; EH, YBNFT; RB) before they were first found inland on 2/25 at Thornton Creek between Toledo and Eddyville, where DF noted that this was the "Earliest spring migrant ever at this location, breaking normal arrival date by about two and a half weeks." RL had the first count of more than one at Idaho Flats on 2/24, and CP had the high count of 3 at Toledo on 2/28. Since 2000, they only arrived in early Feb. in 2006 (2/12); otherwise, they were first found in late Feb. (7 years) or early March (2 years)(FN).
An OSPREY recorded at Yaquina Head on 1/17 (BLM) is an uncommon winter record.
Singleton RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS were at an undisclosed location on 2/5 (eBird) and near the HMSC during at least 5 days in Feb. (RL; WN, WH, & RC; SD; JJ). 2 separate singletons were also east of Siletz Bay near Drift Creek Road during the 2/19 Coastal Raptor Route.
An AMERICAN KESTREL was detected 5 days in Jan. at Yaquina Head (BLM). In Feb., they were only noted on the Inland Raptor Route. TS discovered our only MERLIN in north Newport on 2/13-14. PEREGRINE FALCONS were at Yaquina Head during 10 days in Jan. (BLM), and in Feb. singletons were at YBSJ on 2/5 (K&JF, UK) and at Road's End north of Lincoln City on 2/16 (ME).
[Image Not Included: Roy Lowe's Feb. 15 photo of the adult Red-shouldered Hawk that has been wintering at the HMSC.]
We had only 2 reports of BAND-TAILED PIGEONS: 1 at BB's Yachats feeder on 2/3-5; and 2 at North Beaver Creek on 2/17 (LO). They usually don't become ubiquitous until April (SemiL). We had 4 reports of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES (eBird).
A GREAT HORNED OWL roosting during the daytime in the spruces west of the HMSC apartments on 2/20 (EH) may be a first for that location.
4-6 GRAY JAYS continued at BB's Yachats home on 2/5, and 6 were also 5 miles up the Siletz River on 2/12 (ME).
MW found a HORNED LARK at YBSJ on 2/9. This is only the 6th record since 1998 (FN), with almost all found in February at the YBSJ.
During a spell of freezing weather or snow like we had in Feb., WESTERN BLUEBIRDS sometimes appear. CP saw a flock of 9 feeding in bushes along the roadside in Hidden Valley between Newport and Toledo. It was the first time he had seen them there.
The ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER that EH found at the HMSC on 2/16 was probably a winter visitor.
EH appreciated 7 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS at the HMSC on 2/16. 2-5 were also at undisclosed locations on 2/6 &17 (eBird).
[Image Not Included: Dawn Villaescusa's Feb. 15 photo of a male Hooded Merganser near the HMSC. See http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af261/villaesc/Birds/]
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, BirdNotes.net, Bureau of Land Management staff and volunteers at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area (BLM), Rebecca Cheek, Steve Dougill, eBird.org (location and observer not accessible), Mark Elliott, Karan and Jim Fairchild, Darrel Faxon (see http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#thornton_creek and http://www.oregoncoasttoday.com/fieldguide.html), Wayne Hoffman, Eric Horvath, Jim Johnson, Ulo Kiigemagi, Janet & Karin Lamberson, Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LCBNO/), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Walt Nelson, Field Notes (FN; Lincoln County records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are searchable at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#recent), Bob Olson, Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Chuck Philo, Trent Seager, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive@OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Shawn Stephensen, Dawn Villaescusa, Monika Wieland, Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (http://yaquina.info/ybn/) Field Trip (YBNFT) led by LO.
Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations (numbers refer to site numbers in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/): BEAVER CREEK (#78, in part): creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park that includes Beaver Creek State Natural Area (http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_261.php), BOILER BAY STATE WAYSIDE (#59): about 0.5 mi north of Depoe Bay, ECKMAN LAKE (#84): lake 2 mi east of Waldport along HWY 34, HMSC (#75): OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of the HMSC, LNG TANK: large green Liquefied Natural Gas tank on the north side of Yaquina Bay about 1.5 miles east of Yaquina Bay Bridge, ONA BEACH (#77): State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, SALLY'S BEND (#66): large Yaquina Bay embayment east of the LNG tank, SPANISH HEAD: pullout north of Inn at Spanish Head at 4009 SW Highway 101 in Lincoln City, YBSJ (#71): Yaquina Bay South Jetty, YAQUINA HEAD OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREA (#65): headland north of Newport (free on May 14, 2011, for International Migratory Bird Day; otherwise, vehicle fee, http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/yaquina/files/yh_passes.pdf).
The high count of BRANT at Yaquina Bay since they arrived in November to overwinter was 276 on 3/25--37 at embayments east of the Yaquina Bay Bridge where they overwintered and 239 in a tight flock at the northwest side of the Yaquina Bay Bridge where they are often during spring migration (RB). SA reported 250 near the HMSC on 3/5.
At Beaver Creek, LO found 29 GR. WHITE-FRONTED GEESE on 3/31 and our only EURASIAN WIGEON (1-3) on 3/10 & 31.
As many as 3 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were noted 3 days in Feb. at Yaquina Head (BLM) and on 3/6 at Boiler Bay (WH), 3/10 at Seal Rocks (LO), on 3/19 at the YBSJ during the YBNFT, and during 6 days in March at undisclosed locations (eBird).
1-2 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were in Lincoln Co. during 4 days during 3/2-23 (eBird).
Only 12 seabirds were found dead along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach in February--tubenoses included 1 NORTHERN FULMAR and 1 SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER (B&SLo, L&VO).
KM found 4-8 BROWN PELICANS at Seal Rocks on Jan. 19, but we have not had any reports since Feb. 10. So their infrequency in Feb.-March this year is like that in years prior to the anomalous January-April 2010.
LO tallied as many as 2 GREAT EGRETS at Beaver Creek on 3/5, 10, & 25; 1-2 were also reported at undisclosed sites on 4 other days (eBird).
[Image Not Included: (top right) Roy Lowe's March 20 photograph of a male Surf Scoter feeding on mussels near Port of Alsea docks at Waldport. They are sometimes mistakenly identified as more well known Tufted Puffins. The plumage of waterfowl keeps them dry--see the bead of water above its eye and the beads on part of its back in the top-most photo; water beads on the back behind the white nape patch are much enlarged in the lower photo. Barely visible in the top photo are serrations along the lower line of the bill that help it grip food. These images are cropped from Roy's photo at http://www.flickr.com/photos/24707703@N06/]
[Image Not Included: Dawn Villaescusa's March 26 photo of a molting Horned Grebe at the Yaquina Bay South Jetty showing the beginning of a reddish neck, blackish throat, and yellowish "horns." This motley plumage is not shown in most field guides and is in between the clean black and white winter plumage and the colorful plumage of breeding. This photo is cropped from http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af261/villaesc/Birds/?action=view¤t=IMG_4760_1.jpg]
Oregon Winter Raptor Surveys are a good relative index to the abundance of wintering raptors and are coordinated by the East Cascades Birds Observatory (http://www.ecbcbirds.org/Default.aspx?tabid=73).
The Lincoln Co. Raptor Coast Route is about 60 miles and runs along Hwy 101 from the north side of Alsea Bay to the Taft area of Lincoln City, with nearby inland valleys. It was completed in about 5 hours on 11/22 by WH, WN, & RC; on 12/23 by WN & RC, on 1/22 by WH, WN & RC; and on 2/19 by WN, WH, & RC.
The Inland or Yaquina River-Siletz Raptor Route is about 65 miles long. It was done in 4.5 hours on 11/20 by CP & JL, 4.25 hours on 12/29 by JL & KL, 4.75 hr on 1/25 by CP & JL, 4.5 hr on 2/10 by CP & JL, and on 3/6 by CP & JL.
Overall this winter, the two most abundant raptors for both routes were Red-tailed Hawks and Bald Eagles. Differences between these two Routes indicate that Red-shouldered Hawks, Bald Eagles, and Peregrine Falcons are more common along the Coast, while White-tailed Kites, Red-tailed Hawks, and kestrels are more common inland. However, kestrels were noted during 2 days in early Feb. along the coast at Yaquina Head (BLM).
During the 3/6 Inland Route, 3 subadult eagles fed on a carcass in Hidden Valley (between Newport and Toledo) with an adult watching from a power pole above (JL & CP).
DH reported our first OSPREY at Eckman Lake on 3/17, and DR found our only RED-SHOULDERED HAWK lingering near the south end of the HMSC Nature Trail during the 3/19 YBNFT.
RL saw our only MERLIN whizzing by the USFWS bird feeders at the HMSC on 3/2.
PEREGRINE FALCONS were often reported at Yaquina Head in Feb. (BLM) and in Lincoln Co. in March (m.ob.).
-----------------------------------------
Coast Route___|Inland Route____
11/ 12/ 1/ 2/|11/ 12/ 1/ 2/ 3/
Raptor 22 23 22 19| 20 29 25 10 6
-----------------------------------------
N. Harrier 2 0 0 2| 0 0 1 0 0
Wh-t. Kite 0 0 0 0| 3 0 5 4 1
Sharp. Hawk 0 0 0 1| 0 0 0 0 0
Coop. Hawk 0 0 0 0| 1 0 0 1 0
unk. accipit.0 0 0 0| 0 0 1 0 0
R-shld. Hawk 1 0 0 3| 0 0 0 0 0
R-tail. Hawk 8 6 11 8| 7 8 17 15 16
B. Eagle ad. 6 3 13 11| 2 4 4 0 6
" subadults 0 0 1 5| 2 1 0 0 3
" unknown 1 0 0 0| 0 0 0 0 0
Am. Kestrel 0 1 2 0| 4 3 3 2 2
Peregrine F. 2 4 2 0| 0 1 2 0 0
unk. raptor 0 0 0 0| 0 1 0 0 0
RAPTOR SUM 20 14 29 30| 19 18 33 22 28
There were few shorebird reports, and DH had our only LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS with 3 at upper Alsea Bay on 3/1.
On 3/1, RC & WN saw a steady northward flight of gulls along the beach north of Ona Beach passing at a rate of 50-150 per minute for an hour starting at 7 AM. Identifying all of them was not possible because of poor light, rain, and gulls were flying at least 45 mph with the tailwind. There was a mix of ages, and 70% of the adults were GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS. Some were also CALIFORNIA GULLS.
RL had our only GLAUCOUS GULL--a first-year bird at the Gull Puddle at the YBSJ on 3/21, and PP detected our first CASPIAN TERN (1) during his 3/28 Boiler Bay seawatch.
1,300-6,000 COMMON MURRES were moving south during seawatches on 3/7 north of Ona Beach (RC & WN), 3/10 at Spanish Head (PP), and at Boiler Bay on 3/6, 20, & 28 (WH; PP). KT reported 5,000 on 3/22 at Yaquina Head.
PIGEON GUILLEMOTS were also on the move with counts of 45 mainly south (3/20) and 240 "steady south" (3/28) during Boiler Bay seawatches (WH; PP).
2-14 MARBLED MURRELETS were spotted during seawatches at Boiler Bay on 3/6 (WH), north of Ona Beach on 3/7 (RC & WN); and Spanish Head on 3/10 (PP). 1-9 ANCIENT MURRELETS were tallied during Boiler Bay seawatches on 3/6, 20, & 28 (WH; PP).
A lone CASSIN'S AUKLET (uncommon this time of year) was found during a Spanish Head seawatch on 3/10 (PP).
RHINOCEROS AUKLETS had a good showing with 14 north of Ona Beach on 3/7 (RC & WN), 220 during a Spanish Head seawatch on 3/10 (PP), and 12-90 during Boiler Bay seawatches on 3/6, 20, & 28 (WH; PP).
MOURNING DOVE reports included 10 along Elk City Road on 3/3 (DH) and 4-5 east of Sally's Bend on 3/15 (L&JM).
A BARRED OWL called loudly at night near Eckman Lake on 3/1 (RL) and at 2 PM & 4 PM on 3/6 at north Beaver Creek (LO).
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD arrivals included the first male at Wandemere 0.5 mile north of Ona Beach on 3/3 (RC & WN) and the first female east of Sally's Bend on 3/5 (L&JM), with many reports of both thereafter.
BLl appreciated a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER at his Logsden home on 3/5, and GRAY JAYS continued to be unusually common this winter with 2 still visiting BB's Yachats home on 3/24, and another 2 lingering through at least 3/26 at RL's Waldport suet feeder.
Spring swallow arrivals included TREE SWALLOWS on 3/5 at both Logsden (BLl) and Beaver Creek (LO) and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS at Beaver Creek on 3/10 (LO).
BLl was treated with our only WESTERN BLUEBIRDS (6) at Logsden fields on 3/14.
An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER singing at Beaver Creek State Natural Area on 3/5 (WH) is several weeks early for a spring migrant (SemiL) and may have wintered.
KT reported a rare NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH to eBird near Beaver Creek Road on 3/22; GG corresponded with the observer for details that seem to fit a Northern Waterthrush. This is the 4th Lincoln Co. report, with the previous report in August 2006 near the Salishan Nature Trail (ME).
LO had our only Slate-colored DARK-EYED JUNCO at his north Beaver Creek home on 3/25, and 4-5 EVENING GROSBEAKS continued at BB's Yachats home through 3/24.
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Steve Ackers, Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, BirdNotes.net, Bureau of Land Management staff and volunteers at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area (BLM), Rebecca Cheek, Mark Elliott, eBird.org (location and observer not accessible through "All Observations" at http://ebird.org/ebird/eBirdReports?cmd=Start but location and observer of rarities or first/last seen bird records may be available through "Arrivals and Departures" there), Greg Gillson, Wayne Hoffman, Deb Holland, Janet & Karin Lamberson, Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LCBNO/), Bob Llewellyn (BLl), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Linda & John MacKown, Kathy Merrifield, m.ob. (multiple observers), Walt Nelson, Field Notes (FN; Lincoln County records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are searchable at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#recent), Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Chuck Philo, Phil Pickering, Dennis Roberts, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive@OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Kenneth Tarbox, Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (http://yaquina.info/ybn/) Field Trip (YBNFT) led by RB.
Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations (numbers refer to site numbers in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/): BEAVER CREEK (#78, in part): creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park that includes Beaver Creek State Natural Area (http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/), BOILER BAY STATE WAYSIDE (#59): about 0.5 mi north of Depoe Bay, ECKMAN LAKE (#84): lake 2 mi east of Waldport along HWY 34, HMSC (#75): OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of the HMSC, ONA BEACH (#77): State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, SPANISH HEAD: pullout north of Inn at Spanish Head at 4009 SW Highway 101 in Lincoln City, THIEL CREEK: creek about 3.5 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge, THORNTON CREEK: about midway between Toledo and Eddyville along HWY 20, WANDEMERE: about 0.5 mi north of Ona Beach State Park near HWY 101, YBSJ (#71): Yaquina Bay South Jetty, YAQUINA HEAD OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREA (#65): headland north of Newport (vehicle entrance fee, http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/yaquina/files/yh_passes.pdf).
On 4/6 at Eckman Lake, KM observed courtship behavior in a pair of WOOD DUCKS.
There is a web cam (http://kordelheide.camstreams.com/) inside of a Wood Duck nest box at Devils Lake (Lincoln City) that allows us to watch day or night. This web site indicates that 17 chicks left this box in "late May" last year, and "This year after a bit of a battle with the starlings, the Wood Duck hen won and laid her first egg April 17."
In late April, this box often seemed abandoned, but the "Eggs will be invisible, buried under nesting material, [which includes feathers] when the hen(s) are gone feeding." The web site indicates that the "Hen has been setting since about April 30." However, the webmasters of the Maplewood, Minnesota Wood Duck House cam linked on the same web site have also been watching the Devils Lake cam and write on their page that "as of 4/23 their [Devils Lake] hen appears to be staying for long periods of time which indicates she has probably laid all of her clutch of eggs." So the hen is now usually present, and at times RB has counted at least 7 eggs as she infrequently moves around and suspects there may be at least twice as many. There is rarely much action as she incubates--just the rise and fall of her torso as she breathes, usually with her bill tucked under a wing. But on 4/24, JP saw a starling fly in briefly before leaving, and on 4/25, DV wrote: "There was a starling in the nest just a few seconds ago -- I was heartbroken, but apparently it just stole some nesting material and left."
Background information about Wood Duck nesting (http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-802/420-802.html, http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/lifehistory) indicates that incubation lasts 28-37 days, and BNA's account for Wood Ducks states "Once eggs begin pipping, female rarely leaves nest unless disturbed. All ducklings hatch 6-18 h after first egg is pipped. Ducklings usually leave nest in morning about 24 h after hatching." Accordingly, the eggs may hatch sometime in late May again this year (May 21 would be 28 days after the April 23 estimate of clutch completion and May 28 would be 28 days after the April 30 estimate of setting for incubation). After they hatch they are likely to all jump from the box within 24 hours to go with the hen. So, unfortunately, it looks there will be a short period of frenzied activity that will be easy for us to miss on the cam. It would be great to see the hatching process and activity at that time! This is interesting stuff & we are very fortunate to have such a view!
Thanks to those who have this web cam!
AR has been part of an effort for establishing and monitoring Wood Duck nest boxes at Devils Lake, and some of their results can be seen by scrolling down http://www.devilslakeor.us/birds.html
A flock of about 25-30 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE lingered on the ground at Beaver Creek until at least 4/16 (WH; LO). The only migrating flights were a total of 3 small flocks of 90 or fewer geese on 4/19 over the HMSC (TW) and Lincoln City (PP) and on 4/30 over Newport's Safeway (CP). There does not seem to be as many migrating as in other years.
The high count of BRANT at Yaquina Bay was 258 on 4/8 (RB). PP noted small numbers passing during seawatches at Spanish Head (Lincoln City) and Boiler Bay through 4/26.
Migrating CACKLING GEESE passed Lincoln City, Boiler Bay, and YBSJ during 4/19-25 (PP; RL; DV).
One sign of Spring is offspring! 2 CANADA GOOSE parents were stepping into the water with their goslings at D River (Lincoln City) on 4/29 (DV). A pair of wild MALLARDS with a brood of ducklings was in the flooded puddles south of the YBSJ on 4/11 (CP).
At Beaver Creek, 1 CINNAMON TEAL visited on 4/16 & 17 (WH; DH), and our latest EURASIAN WIGEON persisted through 4/29 (LO).
HARLEQUIN DUCKS were recorded during 8 days in April at Seal Rocks, Yaquina Bay, and Yaquina Head, with a max count of 6 on 4/17 (BW).
A LONG-TAILED DUCK was at Yaquina Bay on 4/15 & 17 (TC; WH) and Boiler Bay on 4/21 (PP).
A first-year BARROW'S GOLDENEYE in lower Yaquina Bay was molting into breeding plumage on 4/18 (WH).
On 4/3 at the Port of Alsea docks at Waldport, RL photographed (http://www.flickr.com/photos/24707703@N06/) a male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER with the upper half of its bill missing. RL writes: "I would suspect that catching fish would be a lot more difficult for this bird, but it looked healthy."
[Image Not Included: Roy Lowe's April 24 photo of a male Bufflehead near the Port of Alsea docks at Waldport. Note the thin black lines showing on the white side (one is so thin that it barely shows). We can miss seeing these at a distance. These lines are not actually on the sides, since field guides show male Buffleheads as having a white patch on top of the wing, with black farther out, so the blackest line visible here marks the edge of the top of the wing. How a drake holds his wings could change the appearance of the black line(s). In the color photo, the purple, blue, and green iridescence is visible--again a feature not seen from a distance. The fanned out tail on the water could act as a stabilizer.]
KM spotted 1 WILD TURKEY about a mile west of Ellmaker Park east of Eddyville along HWY 20 on 4/6. 4-5 were also reported in that general area in January. They are only occasionally reported, with the previous record in August 2009 near River Bend marina on Yaquina Bay. RB suspects that they are more common in east Lincoln County than our reports indicate because the June 2004 ODFW Mgmt. Plan for Wild Turkeys (http://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/management_plans/wild_turkey/) has a map on p. 24 that indicates that they occupy most of eastern Lincoln County. Unfortunately, that report does not give details about the location and date of releases.
Seawatches indicated that some loons were migrating north in early April. But numbers picked up on 4/11, when PP tallied 300+ RED-THROATED LOONS, 1,800+ PACIFIC LOONS, and 7 COMMON LOONS in 1 hour (7-8 AM) at Spanish Head. The peak may have been on 4/21 at Boiler Bay, when during a 3.5 hour morning watch, PP counted 3,000 Red-throats (857/hr or 14/min), 23,000+ Pacifics (6,571/hr or 110/min), and 150 Commons (43/hr or less than 1/min). The loon migration continued.
In March, 6 NORTHERN FULMARS and 1 SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER were found dead along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO).
PP discovered 1 MANX-type SHEARWATER during Boiler Bay seawatches on 4/21 & 26.
[Image Not Included: Roy Lowe's April 26 photo of a pair of adult Bald Eagles standing on the mudflats near the HMSC Nature Trail as an Osprey approached. The Osprey came from the nesting platform near the Trail footbridge that had been put up by Oregon Coast Aquarium, and Roy captioned the photo: "The eagles 'greet' the osprey talons to talons." This and other photos are at http://www.flickr.com/photos/24707703@N06/]
LO noted our first BROWN PELICANS (2) since Feb. 10 at Seal Rocks on 4/7. They were not seen again until 4/15 at Lincoln City (DV). Thereafter we had 13 records (RC & WN; PP; RL; DV; eBird), with a peak count of 98 during PP's 4/21 Boiler Bay seawatch. Unlike January-April of 2010 when Brown Pelicans were numerous and frequent along the Lincoln County Coast, this year was more like years prior to 2010. After January, we only had one record in early February and none in March.
PP detected a strong movement of BRANDT'S CORMORANTS flying south, with 400-1,400 flying south or mostly south during 7 seawatches at Boiler Bay and/or Spanish Head during 4/19-30.
Flocks of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS flew north past YBSJ, Wandemere, and Boiler Bay during 4/17-21 (RB; RC& WN; RL; PP).
1-2 WHITE-TAILED KITES were near Logsden during 5 days in early April (BLl), Yaquina Bay on 4/24 (CJ), and south Siletz Bay on 4/25 (DH).
A PEREGRINE FALCON graced Lincoln Co. during 3 days in April (TC; WH; eBird).
A MERLIN buzzed Thiel Creek on 4/14 (RL) and Idaho Flats on 4/22 (WH).
Our first SORA was at Beaver Creek on 4/23 (WH), and our latest WILSON'S SNIPE were at the Yachats Wetlands south pond on 4/20 (BB).
During seawatches at Boiler Bay and/or Spanish Head, PP first saw a migration of WESTERN SANDPIPERS on 4/19, with a peak count of 15,000+ on 4/22. RED-NECKED PHALAROPES put on good showing near the coastline with 65,000+ during a 3.5 hr seawatch on 4/21 (PP).
Shorebird arrivals include WHIMBREL at Lincoln City on 4/5 (PP), SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER at Idaho Flats on 4/17 (DR), RED-NECKED PHALAROPE at Yaquina Bay on 4/17 (WH), DUNLIN (migrants) at Idaho Flats on 4/19 (DH), BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER at Lincoln City on 4/19 (PP), SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, and RED PHALAROPE at Boiler Bay on 4/21 (PP); MARBLED GODWIT at Idaho Flats on 4/22 (WH), and RED KNOT at Boiler Bay on 4/30 (PP).
[Image Not Included: Roy Lowe's April 23 photo of a Short-billed Dowitcher scratching its head at the outlet of Eckman Lake into Alsea Bay. At times Roy was less that 20 feet from them as they fed, slept, and preened. He has posted photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/24707703@N06/. Note that it has flexed open the tip of its bill while the rest of its bill is closed. When close, the feather patterning is much more intricate than when seen at a distance and this photo when enlarged shows details not apparent in most field guides.]
On 4/26, JB was on the beach between Lost Creek and Beaver Creek when a LONG-TAILED JAEGER (rare in spring) flew south along the cliff edge. JB remarked: "It flew right above me about 30 ft off the ground. I saw it coming and in the distance I thought it was a tern at first but as it got closer it didn't look right and then as it went straight above me I got a great look at the whole bird including the long threadlike tail feathers."
BONAPARTE'S GULLS suddenly appeared in numbers during the 3.5 hr morning 4/21 Boiler Bay seawatch, when PP estimated 5,500 (95% in breeding plumage).
1 or 2 immature GLAUCOUS GULLS remained near Wandemere on 4/23-24 (RC & WN).
5 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES were found dead in March along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO).
An excerpt from BeachConnection (http://www.beachconnection.net/news/seagull042811_523.php):
"Feeding seagulls is simply a bad idea ... People food is bad for them, it causes them to be injured and killed more often by removing their fear of vehicles and traffic, and it even causes health problems for the human water supply. Sharnelle Fee, Executive Director of Wildlife Center of the North Coast in Astoria, has been on a soapbox about this in recent years, watching seagull deaths greatly increase, along with other problems. She and other civic authorities are starting to get the word out on a larger basis, especially in towns where water quality is starting to get affected by large flocks of birds plopping poop everywhere. ... Human food is bad for them in general, but especially the stuff that gets thrown at them, like bread, French fries, potato chips, pizza and lunch meat. These foods have absolutely no nutritional value for gulls and can actually harm them. Fee said she's done necropsies on dead birds that appeared to be starving and found bellies full of human food."
There were 10 days of MARBLED MURRELET reports, with a peak of 80 during a Boiler Bay seawatch on 4/21 by PP, who also detected our only ANCIENT MURRELET (1) there the same day.
3-12 CASSIN'S AUKLETS were at Boiler Bay on 4/17 (DR) and 4/20 & 21 (PP), and RHINOCEROS AUKLETS were at Spanish Head or Boiler Bay during 9 days of seawatches, with a peak of 1,300 on 4/21 (PP).
PP viewed a TUFTED PUFFIN during seawatches at Boiler Bay on 4/20 and at Spanish Head on 4/30, and a rare HORNED PUFFIN during his 4/21 Boiler Bay seawatch.
A few BAND-TAILED PIGEONS were here in Jan.-Mar., but they increased in April with a peak count of about 20 at BB's Yachats feeder on 4/8.
Singleton MOURNING DOVES were recorded at Newport on 4/15 (PR), Lincoln City on 4/29 (DV), and Beaver Creek on 4/30 (DH).
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES continue their spread. They are resident at some preferred locations such as north Newport, but first-time reports were at southwest Newport on 4/4 (RB) and Thornton Creek on 4/22 (DF).
A BARRED OWL called during the day at Beaver Creek at 2 PM on 4/11 and 9 AM on 4/29 (LO).
An uncommon SAY'S PHOEBE visited the HMSC on 4/13 (CP), and 2 GRAY JAYS lingered on 4/8 at BB's Yachats home.
Spring arriving swallows included BARN SWALLOW along the Alsea River on 3/31 (CP), CLIFF SWALLOW at Beaver Creek on 4/18 (LO), PURPLE MARTIN at the HMSC on 4/21 (EH), and NO. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW at Eckman Lake on 4/26 (DH).
A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was a surprise near the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse on 4/8 (AW) and Thornton Creek on 4/30 (DF). A HERMIT THRUSH delayed at Beaver Creek on 4/30 (LO), but we have had sightings into May, so we may have some more.
TH recognized an uncommon NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD on 4/24 at Yachats.
More spring arrivals include COMMON YELLOWTHROAT at Beaver Creek on 4/9 (WH), ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER at Beaver Creek on 4/11 (DH), HERMIT WARBLER at Beaver Creek on 4/16 (WH)(this is 3 days earlier than our earliest record prior to 1993, SemiL), AMERICAN PIPIT at Boiler Bay on 4/17 (DR), CASSIN'S VIREO at South Beach State Park on 4/20 (DG & RP), and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER at Spring Lake Open Space (Lincoln City) on 4/29 (DV).
Departures include FOX SPARROW at Beaver Creek on 4/27 (LO).
A male "piebald" DARK-EYED JUNCO with white blotches on its head, back, and wings was a strange sight in the 5 Rivers area of southeast Lincoln County in late April (CVS). Such piebald or leucistic birds are sometimes seen (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/Albinism_Leucism.htm and http://birding.about.com/od/identifyingbirds/a/leucism.htm).
MS found a LAPLAND LONGSPUR at Roads End State Park (Lincoln City) on 4/10. This is our first record since May 2009 (FN); they used to be more regular.
Even more spring arrivals include CHIPPING SPARROW, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (some overwinter), and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH (some overwinter) in Toledo on 4/15 (CP); BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD at Beaver Creek on 4/20 (LO), migrant SAVANNAH SPARROWS at YBSJ on 4/25 (WH), and LESSER GOLDFINCH (a few overwinter) at Toledo on 4/29 (CP).
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Birding Oregon (http://birdingoregon.info/), BirdNotes.net, Jim Burke, Birds of North America Online (BNA)(http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/), Rebecca Cheek, Tom Crabtree, eBird.org (location and observer not accessible in "View and Explore Data" for "All Observations" but may be available through "Arrivals and Departures" or "Bar Charts"), Darrel Faxon, Dawn Grafe, Todd Hass, Wayne Hoffman, Deb Holland, Eric Horvath, Charmaine Jones, Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LCBNO/), Bob Llewellyn (BLl), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Kathy Merrifield, Walt Nelson, Field Notes (FN; Lincoln County records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are searchable at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#recent), Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Ram Papish, Chuck Philo, Jody Picconi, Phil Pickering, Paul Reed, Al Rice, Douglas Robinson, Matthew Schneider, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive@OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Carol Van Strum (CVS), Dawn Villaescusa, Tom Wainwright, Brian White, Angie Wright.
Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations (numbers refer to site numbers in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/): BEAVER CREEK (#78, in part): creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park that includes Beaver Creek State Natural Area (http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_261.php), BOILER BAY STATE WAYSIDE (#59): about 0.5 mi north of Depoe Bay, ECKMAN LAKE (#84): lake 2 mi east of Waldport along HWY 34, HMSC (#75): OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of the HMSC, LNG TANK: large green Liquefied Natural Gas tank on the north side of Yaquina Bay about 1.5 miles east of Yaquina Bay Bridge, ONA BEACH (#77): State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, SPANISH HEAD: pullout north of Inn at Spanish Head at 4009 SW Highway 101 in Lincoln City, THIEL CREEK: creek about 3.5 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge, WANDEMERE: about 0.5 mi north of Ona Beach State Park near HWY 101, YBSJ (#71): Yaquina Bay South Jetty, YAQUINA HEAD OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREA (#65): headland north of Newport.
PP spotted our latest GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flying over Lincoln City on 5/2.
From mid-May sometimes into early June, a northerly flight of the introduced WESTERN CANADA GEESE occurs. They are thought to be failed breeders or non-breeders. This year, RC saw the first flock on 5/18 at Wandemere, and the latest flock was reported on 5/27 over Newport (RB). On 5/14, 18 adult Canada's with 10+ goslings were at Knight Park (Salmon River)(DV).
The fate of the WOOD DUCK nest with the web cam at Devils Lake reported last month is unknown as the cam ceased sometime after May 7, which is before the eggs should have hatched (RB). On 5/14, RL discovered a hen Wood Duck with 3 tiny ducklings on Eckman Lake.
Departing goldeneyes include 3 COMMON GOLDENEYES at South Beach on 5/12 (CC) and the yearling male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE that lingered near the Yaquina Bay Bridge until 5/13 (WH; HS & KH). For records through 1992, our latest Barrow's was on April 6 and our latest Common was on May 4 (SemiL).
There were 11 HARLEQUIN DUCK records, with the latest on 5/28 (eBird).
DG reports that a WILD TURKEY visited with chickens on Lucky Cluck Farm in Toledo for 3 days the first week of April, for only our 2nd report this year.
PACIFIC LOON and RED-THROATED LOON migration continued at least into late May, with 250 Pacifics, 200 Red-throateds, and no Common Loons heading north during WH's 65 minute Boiler Bay seawatch on 5/29.
1-2 CLARK'S GREBES were discerned on the 5/15 Bird Guide Pelagic Trip out of Newport (GG), north of Yaquina Head on 5/17 (RH), at YBSJ on 5/17 (JW), and at Yaquina Bay on 5/23 (DH).
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES are rarely seen from shore, but PP spotted 1 about 2 miles off Boiler Bay during his 5/6 seawatch. There were 5 reports of them offshore. A LAYSAN ALBATROSS was also recorded offshore on 5/11 (eBird).
1 NORTHERN FULMAR was found dead in April and in May along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). A live one was seen during PP's 5/2 Spanish Head seawatch and 1-4 were noted offshore during the 5/15 Bird Guide Pelagic Trip (GG) and on 5/20 from the Princess cruise ship (RN & others).
5 SOOTY SHEARWATERS in April and 16 in May were tallied along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). Live ones were frequently seen from shore and offshore.
9 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS were observed during the 5/15 Bird Guide pelagic (GG). A rare FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER was discovered from a Princess cruise ship offshore on 5/20 (RN & others), and a rare MURPHY'S PETREL was offshore on 5/11 (eBird).
FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS and LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS were noted during 5 and 3 offshore trips, respectively.
1 BROWN PELICAN was dead in May along the beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). Many live ones were also reported, with 65 being the highest count by an observer at Boiler Bay on 5/16 (SF).
1-2 GREAT EGRETS at Yaquina Bay on 5/6, 7, & 25 (DH; RB) were the first of the year there, and 1 was also recorded during the 5/14-15 NAMC (CG).
OSPREY nesting activity was widely reported.
Our latest NORTHERN HARRIER was on 5/4 near the YBSJ (DH), and our only AMERICAN KESTREL was at north Beaver Creek on 5/8 (LO).
During 5/1-11, we had reports of single MERLIN at the HMSC (DV), Lincoln City (PP), Siletz Bay (DV), and Yachats Wetlands (DS fide BB).
We had 5 sightings of PEREGRINE FALCONS at several locations.
RC had our only SORA on 5/1 at Yasek Loop Road pond south of Siletz.
[Image Not Included: Roy Lowe's May 16 photo of a brown-eyed Virginia Rail walking with its short cocked tail amongst the marsh vegetation at the south end of Eckman Lake. Note the gray side of its head contrasting with its brown underparts and its lack of webbed feet.]
The only GOLDEN-PLOVER was 1 passing Boiler Bay during PP's 5/7 seawatch, but they are usually uncommon in spring.
Fore! On 5/16, JP photographed 15 WHIMBRELS busy foraging on the 12th green at Salishan Golf Course (Lincoln City). In recent springs, Whimbrels have often been spotted feeding on the greens there, though we generally see them along ocean beaches or on estuarine mudflats. The high counts of Whimbrels on the ground were 70-80+ at south Siletz Bay on 5/5 & 7 (DV). Spring numbers are down, as we had 10 counts of 150-300 Whimbrels in at Yaquina Bay in late April and early May during 1984-1995, but, to RB's knowledge, none greater than 150 since then (Yaquina Bay State Important Bird Area 2002 Nomination).
LONG-BILLED CURLEWS are uncommon, and our only reports were of singletons passing during PP's seawatches on 5/2 at Spanish Head and on 5/5 at Boiler Bay.
MARBLED GODWITS were scarce with our only sightings being 3 during a 5/10 Boiler Bay seawatch (PP) and 1 at Idaho Flats on 5/19 (ME).
RUDDY TURNSTONE records included 4 on 5/4 at Idaho Flats (WH), 3 during the 5/10 Boiler Bay seawatch (PP), and 1 on 5/17 at Yaquina Head (RH).
It wasn't a good May for RED KNOT views, since we only had 1-4 during a 5/2 Spanish Head seawatch (PP) and at Lincoln City tidepools on 5/11 (AW).
High counts of small shorebirds (WESTERN SANDPIPERS, LEAST SANDPIPERS, DUNLIN) on mudflats were only at Idaho Flats with 3,000+ Westerns on 5/4 (RL) and 2,200 on 5/7 (RB). During Boiler Bay seawatches, PP estimated 11,000-67,000 Westerns passing on 5/1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 and 16,000 on 5/10.
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE migration was last noted during a Yachats seawatch on 5/22 (JW with WTB), and RED PHALAROPES were last reported offshore during the 5/15 Bird Guide Pelagic Trip (GG).
Departing shorebirds included BLACK TURNSTONE on the 5/15 Bird Guide Pelagic Trip (GG), SEMIPALMATED PLOVER on 5/22 at Siletz Bay (DV), WANDERING TATTLER at Yaquina Head on 5/22 (JW with WTB), and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER on 5/25 at Idaho Flats (DH).
[Image Not Included: Dawn Villaescusa's May 15 photo of a Spotted Sandpiper at Siletz Bay near the Salishan Nature Trail. In breeding plumage, they have spots! The intermittent barring on the upperparts is not visible from a distance. The concentric ripples are from scattered raindrops. Cropped from http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af261/villaesc/Birds/?action=view¤t=IMG_8400_1.jpg]
A SOUTH POLAR SKUA was offshore on 5/13 (eBird) and 5/20 (RN & others).
An unidentified jaeger visited Seal Rocks on 5/27 (RC), and singleton PARASITIC JAEGERS were identified from shore during PP's Boiler Bay seawatch on 5/10 and offshore on 5/13 (eBird) and 5/20 (RN & others). LONG-TAILED JAEGER reports included 1-2 offshore on 5/11 & 13 (eBird) and during the 5/15 Bird Guide Pelagic Trip from Newport (GG), and 15 during the 5/20 cruise (RN & others).
Offshore, 11-20 SABINE'S GULLS were noted on 5/13 & 15 (GG; eBird), and 3-4 ARCTIC TERNS were viewed on 5/11 & 13 (eBird).
There were many reports of MARBLED MURRELETS, but PP had our only ANCIENT MURRELET during a 5/4 Boiler Bay seawatch.
PP detected a probable PARAKEET AUKLET during a 5/6 Boiler Bay seawatch, and WH found another there on 5/8; 2 were seen offshore from a cruise ship about 35-60 miles offshore on 5/20 (RN & others).
CASSIN'S AUKLET sightings included 1 during a 5/10 Boiler Bay seawatch (PP), 2 during a 5/20 cruise about 35-60 miles offshore (RN & others), and 15 during the 5/15 Bird Guide Pelagic Trip out of Newport (GG).
Single TUFTED PUFFINS were noted during PP's Boiler Bay seawatches on 5/7 &10 and during the 5/15 Bird Guide Pelagic Trip (GG). 2-4 were also appreciated at Yaquina Head on 5/13 (BO & RB) and 5/22 (JW with WTB).
We had 8 sightings of MOURNING DOVES and many more of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES.
JW discovered a LONG-EARED OWL nesting or roosting in a cavity in a snag several miles east of Cape Perpetua in the Siuslaw National Forest on 5/17. He "did not glimpse the face, but the size, shape, and color were right for Long-eared Owl." On 5/17, 18, & the 5/22 WTB, it vocalized in response to whistled imitations of Northern Pygmy-Owl calls, but was not seen (JW). On 5/29, CP followed JW's excellent directions to the snag but did not see the owl, though it responded twice loudly and with a variety of sounds after CP blew his pygmy-owl call. CP could not identify the kind of owl based on the sounds he heard, and thought he heard another bird that may have been the mate nearby, but he couldn't see it, either. We only have 2 records in Lincoln County since 1990 and a total of 7 records, so a Long-eared Owl is a great find! The 1995-1999 Oregon Breeding Bird Atlas results indicates that there were no nesting records for them in any coastal county except in the Siskiyous of Curry County.
A BLACK SWIFT flew over Newport on 5/10 (CP), and VAUX'S SWIFTS (13) were only recorded during the 5/14-15 NAMC (CG).
Several observers commented on RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS not being as numerous at feeders this spring as in the past. The chilly, wet spring may have been a cause. ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS were encountered throughout the month.
R&LE viewed and well-described a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER that briefly visited a black locust tree at their home near Big Creek Reservoir (Newport) on 5/6. This is only our 11th report overall, and our fourth since 1992. Our only other spring records were in May 1900, May 1941, and May 1992. All our recent sightings have been 1-day wonders (only seen for a limited time on 1 day).
We had several PILEATED WOODPECKER reports, with one landing near H&GB's home south of Depoe Bay on 5/8.
EH commented on the season's first OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER on 5/6 at north Beaver Creek.
1-2 WESTERN KINGBIRDS were near the Newport LNG tank on 5/1 (CP), HMSC on 5/2 (RL), and Waldport Golf Course on 5/7 (JH).
Normally, one only expects waterbirds to wash ashore dead on beaches, but in both April and May, 1 dead VARIED THRUSH was found on the beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). In May, 1 AMERICAN CROW and 1 COMMON RAVEN were also found dead on this beach.
An influx of singleton WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS occurred n north Newport on 5/10 (PR), near the Newport Coast Guard Station on 5/14 (GG), south of Thiel Creek on 5/18 (RL), in Newport on 5/25 (PK), and at Wandemere on 5/25-26 (RC).
On 5/14, CP heard a ROCK WREN in some 2-3 year old clearcuts about 1-2 miles south of Stott Mountain at high elevations in northeastern Lincoln County. RH sighted another on 5/17 at Yaquina Head for his bird group and promptly reported it, which resulted in DH being also able to see it later that day. These are only our 5th and 6th records (SemiL).
BLl found an AMERICAN DIPPER nest at his Logsden swimming hole on 5/11.
WESTERN BLUEBIRDS were in young clearcuts at high elevations in northeast Lincoln Co. on 5/14 (CP) and east of Cape Perpetua on 5/17 & 22 (JW with WTB). The WTB also had an uncommon TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE in a clearcut with the bluebirds (JW).
Spring arrivals included BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK at Yachats on 5/3 (BB), WESTERN TANAGER at Beaver Creek on 5/7 (DH), SWAINSON'S THRUSH at South Beach on 5/10 (DH), LINCOLN'S SPARROW in Newport on 5/11 (PR), and CEDAR WAXWING and WARBLING VIREO during the 5/14-15 NAMC (CG).
Departures included FOX SPARROW and LESSER GOLDFINCH during the 5/14-15 NAMC (CG), and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW at Salishan Nature Trail at Siletz Bay on 5/19 (DV).
Spring vagrants included a BULLOCK'S ORIOLE during the 5/14-15 NAMC (CG), 2 adult male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS in Newport on 5/16 (SK), and a LAZULI BUNTING at Road's End (Lincoln City) on 5/23 (ME).
RED CROSSBILLS were often reported.
[Image Not Included: Anne Walker's May 11 photo of Red Crossbills--male (left) and female (right)--at her Waldport feeder. The female unusually has many white spots and white outer tail feathers. Note that its eye color is normal. A close examination of the bit of red above her left shoulder indicates that is from a different bird, probably from a male that is mostly out of view. Birds with such white spots can be referred to as leucistic (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/Albinism_Leucism.htm & http://birding.about.com/od/identifyingbirds/a/leucism.htm).
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Betty Bahn, Herb & Gloria Baum, Range Bayer, Birding Oregon (http://birdingoregon.info/), BirdNotes.net, Rebecca Cheek, Carey Cooper, eBird.org (location and observer not accessible in "View and Explore Data" for "All Observations" but may be available through "Arrivals and Departures" or "Bar Charts"), Mark Elliott, Robert & Linda Etherington, fide ("as reported by" someone other than the observer), Shawneen Finnegan, Chuck Gates, Greg Gillson, Dawn Grafe, Bird Guide Pelagic Trip out of Newport (BGPT; info about pelagic trips at http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/), Kelle Herrick, Wayne Hoffman, Deb Holland, Eric Horvath, Rich Hoyer, Jack Hurt, Penelope Kaczmarek, Steve Kupillas, Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LCBNO/), Bob Llewellyn (BLl), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Linda & John MacKown, Russ Namitz, Walt Nelson, North American Migration Count (NAMC), Field Notes (FN; Lincoln County records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are searchable at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#recent), Bob Olson, Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Chuck Philo, Jody Picconi, Phil Pickering, Paul Reed, David Schlesinger, Harv Schubothe, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive@OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Wild Turkeys Birdathon (WTB) team for the Audubon Society of Portland, Dawn Villaescusa, Anne Walker, Jay Withgott, Angie Wright.
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