These field notes are from the Sandpiper, a publication of Yaquina Birders & Naturalists, Lincoln County, Oregon.
Comments about abundance or seasonality refer only to LINCOLN COUNTY. There is room here for only some of the many Lincoln County sightings posted to Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birding.aba.org/maillistdigest/OR01), 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.
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 33 ------------------------------- June-August 2012 September 2012 October 2012 November 2012 December 2012
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 at Otter Crest, 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, SALMON RIVER ESTUARY (#44 and 45): estuary at north end of Lincoln Co.; the mouth is in Tillamook Co., 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.
We did not have any reports of BRANT this summer; though we usually had a few reports in the past.
The northerly flights of WESTERN CANADA GEESE that started in mid-May near the coastline continued into June to 6/20 (DV; RC; RL; RB); 6/20 (DV) is apparently a record last date for these flights. On 6/3 at Wandemere, RC noted that they seemed to be more this year; RL replied: "I suspect there are more Western Canada geese involved with this molt migration now simply because this species has expanded along the coast, but looking at past data doesn't tell us too much because observer effort is all over the board from year to year. Sizes of the flocks are extremely variable within a season and from year to year. I noted that in the second year of keeping records (1995) I had several reports of flocks of 75 birds that year, and there are other counts in the 90's & 100's in other years. Previous to your [RC's] report of 80 birds from 6/3, the largest flock reported to me this year was 45 birds. " Some Western's remained to nest (e.g., 47 at Eckman Lake area on 7/14 [DV]), and others showed post-breeding movements, with the first report of a big influx (56) into lower Yaquina Bay on 7/22 that increased to 134 on 8/19 (RB).
On 8/3, HH found 9 GREEN-WINGED TEAL at Klickitat Lake, east of Waldport and northwest of Alsea. It is unclear if these oversummered as nonbreeders, nested (the 1995-1999 Oregon Breeding Bird Atlas indicates one "probable" nesting record for Lincoln Co.), or were early migrants. The next report was of one at Yachats on 8/26 (GG) that was probably a migrant.
Waterfowl arrivals include NORTHERN PINTAIL (2) at the Salmon River on 8/15 (KC) and NORTHERN SHOVELER (20) at Yachats on 8/26 (GG).
DH found 25-32 MALLARDS at Eckman Lake in July where they nest. The first report of the "fall" arrival of surface-feeding ducks at Yaquina Bay embayments were 41 Mallards on 8/19 (RB); Mallards do not nest at these embayments, so they came from elsewhere.
On 8/27 at Siletz Bay, DV noted "hundreds" of Mallards and Northern Pintail.
GREATER SCAUP lingered at Yaquina Bay until 6/11 (JL; PO; RB); scaup regularly linger into June and sometimes July (SemiL). Many observers found some nonbreeding SURF SCOTERS, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, and BLACK SCOTERS oversummering as usual (SemiL; FN).
During June-July, DH found a HARLEQUIN DUCK on 6/13 at Seal Rocks, TJa counted 13 at Devil's Punchbowl at Otter Crest on 7/8, CB had 14 in the Yaquina Head area on 7/19, and TMe had 7 at Seal Rocks on 7/23.
HOODED MERGANSER chicks left a nest box at DG's & RP's home near Toledo on 6/10.
A male RING-NECKED PHEASANT with molting head plumage appeared and was photographed near Eckman Lake during 6/12-15 (LL & RL); it is our first report since September 2005 and is probably an escapee.
We had the usual oversummering reports of nonbreeding PACIFIC LOONS, RED-THROATED LOONS, and COMMON LOONS.
On 8/19, LN found an uncommon YELLOW-BILLED LOON at Depoe Bay. We have 10 previous records since 2004--4 of these records were during June-August, and the one most seen for the longest time was present near the Yaquina Bay Jetties during July 2-August 29, 2005 (FN). So seeing one in summer here is about as likely as seeing one in winter!
Some WESTERN GREBES oversummer along the coastline, but less expected singleton RED-NECKED GREBES were at Alsea Bay on 6/3-5 (RL) and at Yachats on 7/19 (JW). 2 uncommon CLARK'S GREBES were also near Yachats on 8/26 (GG).
A dead BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS was found in June along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO), and live ones were appreciated during the 6/9 & 7/24 Bird Guide Pelagic Trips (GG).
2 beached FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS were north of Ona Beach in early July (B&SLo, L&VO), but 2 live ones were watched during the 7/21 Bird Guide Pelagic Trip (GG).
In both June and July, a single dead BROWN PELICAN was north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO), and low numbers were often noted in June with a peak June count of 32 roosting on the YBSJ on 6/24 (RB). As customary, numbers picked up in July with 91 roosting on Colony Rock at Yaquina Head on 7/13 (CH), and 300+ generally moving north along the Lincoln Co. coast on 7/22 (WH).
GREAT EGRETS first reported on 5/22 in the May newsletter at the drying "red barn" McNary Lane pond/pasture at about Milepost 5 between Newport and Toledo continued there during 6/1-9 (BLl; CP; DH; JH). The peak June count there was 10 on 6/4 (CP). Although 5 went to roost in a tree at Depot Slough (Toledo) near a Great Blue Heron colony on 5/25 (BO & RB), we have no observations to confirm that they nested. The first increase in numbers suggesting migration was noted at King Slough on 7/21 (NC), with 21 at Yaquina Bay embayments the next day (RB). The peak August count was 40 at Yaquina Bay embayments on 8/19 (RB).
RL saw and photographed a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK at the HMSC on 7/19--this is our earliest and only our second July record in the past 5 years (FN). JL also watched one there on 8/4.
On 7/17 at the HMSC, RL saw a NORTHERN HARRIER carrying away a snake.
A pair of PEREGRINE FALCONS successfully fledged 4 young at Yaquina Head this summer (many observers); and their nest received some publicity by the BLM, ODFW, and USFWS.
[Image Not Included: Ram Papish's July 4 photo of 2 fledgling Peregrine Falcons at Yaquina Head resting amongst blooming asters. Ahhhh, life is sunshine and a bed of flowers!]
DD saw a flock of 9 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS on a rock ledge at north end of Depoe Bay on 6/18--this is a large summer concentration as 1-6 are to be expected and were reported this summer (many observers).
A late BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and MARBLED GODWIT lingered at Idaho Flats until 6/6 (JL). Neither species has been recorded since.
Nonbreeding WHIMBRELS oversummered again with high counts in June of 38, 49, 42, & 58 at Yaquina Bay on 6/5, 6, 20, & 21, respectively (RL; JL; EH; DH).
Shorebird first reports include: LEAST SANDPIPER at Newport on 6/30 (EA), WESTERN SANDPIPER at the HMSC on 7/1 (unknown observer), DOWITCHER sp. and GREATER YELLOWLEGS at Eckman Lake on 7/14 (DV), SEMIPALMATED PLOVER at Agate Beach (Newport) on 7/17 (DA), BLACK TURNSTONE and SURFBIRD at Yachats on 7/19 (JW), WANDERING TATTLER at Yachats on 7/21 (WH), RED-NECKED PHALAROPE and RED PHALAROPE during the 7/21 Bird Guide Pelagic Trip (GG), SANDERLING at YBSJ on 7/30 (KH), LESSER YELLOWLEGS at the HMSC on 8/1 (PO), RED-NECKED PHALAROPES at Boiler Bay on 8/10 (CT) (phalaropes appear to arrive onshore later than offshore), and 2 RUDDY TURNSTONES at Yachats on 8/19 (DS).
On 7/16, RL estimated "low thousands of peeps" at Idaho Flats, and the same day RE estimated 3,000 Western Sandpipers on the beach south of Waldport. On 8/27 at South Siletz Bay, DV saw "clouds" of peeps.
WH found a dead, uncommon LONG-BILLED CURLEW on HWY 101 south of Newport on 8/12.
The Bird Guide Pelagic Trip out of Newport on 7/21 recorded 30 SABINE'S GULLS, 3 POMARINE JAEGERS, 1 PARASITIC JAEGER, and 1 LONG-TAILED JAEGER (GG).
CASPIAN TERNS normally oversummer (SemiL; FN). This year, our high June count was 11 at Yaquina Bay on 6/15 (SS). One was colorbanded, and SS reported it to tern researchers at the Columbia River. It had been banded at East Sand Island in 2008 and had not been seen by researchers there since then. In early July, there was an influx of Caspians with 53 at Idaho Flats on 7/5 (TJo) and 70 at Yaquina Bay embayments (55 perched on one mudflat roost at Idaho Flats) on 7/8 (RB). Also on 7/8 at Idaho Flats, JL counted 42 Caspians, including some juveniles and 2 that were banded. Banded Caspian Terns can be reported to http://www.mybandedtern.org/ or http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/bblretrv/ that also includes other species.
Our only other tern was a FORSTER'S TERN flying by Depoe Bay on 6/21 (JG). This appears to be our only June record (SemiL; FN).
MARBLED MURRELETS were distinguished during the 6/16 YBNFT (EH), the 2 Bird Guide Pelagic Trips in June and July (GG), and also from other boat trips or shore, with a high count of 35 at Yachats on 8/19 (DS).
An old carcass of a HORNED PUFFIN was found in mid-June along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO).
After all the TUFTED PUFFINS that were beached and dead early in the year (e.g., see Feb.-May newsletters), the number of live sightings seemed to be down this summer, but included 1 at Boiler Bay on 6/12 & 7/19 (DP; CB), 2 during each Bird Guide Pelagic Trip on 6/9 and 7/21 (GG), and a high count of 4 at Yaquina Head on 7/10 (BLoc).
OSU researchers RS, CH, SW, CA, & EN reported that 1-10 juvenile Brown Pelicans severely disturbed the COMMON MURRE nesting colonies on Colony and Flattop Rocks at Yaquina Head during 7/16-20. "The pelican disturbances involved walking and flapping wings through all sections of Flat Top and Colony Rocks, the juvenile pelicans were able to clear away adult murres, thereby gaining access to fish remains and chicks on these breeding sites. We observed juvenile pelicans eating chicks, shaking chicks until they regurgitated fish meals and then discarding the chicks to eat the fish, and eating any fish parts that were on the rocks. Additionally, the prolonged and widespread disturbances allowed increased access for gulls and corvids, which ate their fill of unattended murre chicks. Finally, in the frenzy of activity related to the pelicans' movements, untold numbers of murre chicks were pushed from the rocks prematurely. Many drowned or were pummeled by rough surf, while unattended by an adult on the ocean."
The evening of 7/17, CH walked from the south edge of the Yaquina Headland from Agate Beach to Jump Off Joe (Newport) and counted 369 murre chick carcasses. "Without accounting for the pelican disturbances, it appears that reproductive success for the Yaquina Head colony is around 28% of pairs successfully raising chicks to 15 days of age (potential fledging age). ... Reproductive success overall was slightly greater than last year, but much lower than 2007-2010." The researchers did not give statistics for murre nesting success after including pelican disturbance, but it would have been less than before.
A July 26 Oregon Public Broadcasting video and story about the pelicans walking through the murre colony at Colony Rock (which is west of the Yaquina Head Lighthouse observation deck and north of Flat Top island which is also a murre colony on a flatter island) is at http://ecotrope.opb.org/2012/07/at-yaquina-head-pelicans-roughing-up-murres/ The video also shows murre adults and chicks at a nesting colony and, as noted at the end of the video, many of the murre chicks are estimated to be about 15-16 days old. When murre chicks fledge (leave the colony) at about 1/3 of adult size, they leap off the colony while still flightless to swim off with their fathers who care for them until they are able to care for themselves (a video of a chick jumping is at http://www.fws.gov/sfbayrefuges/murre/Videos.htm -- also see http://losfarallones.blogspot.com/2007/07/fledging-murre-chicks-take-big-leap.html).
A BARRED OWL visited Hudson Loop between Toledo on Siletz on 6/23 (JL), up Alsea River on 6/24 (BT fide PR), and north Beaver Creek on 8/24 (LO).
On 7/29-31, 2-3 nestling VAUX'S SWIFTS were in CP's chimney in Toledo. They hadn't nested in his chimney for 4-5 years but before that they had nested there several years. They left on 8/6, but 1 was dead at the bottom of the chimney.
An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER in southwest Newport on 8/23 (RB) is only our 4th record since 2000 (FN).
On 8/13, TMi & others were kayaking and saw what may have been a BLACK PHOEBE nest under the South Beaver Creek road bridge over Beaver Creek --it looked like their nests on bridges in Lane Co. Phoebes are uncommon to rare in Lincoln Co., and our only report this summer was 1 at the HMSC on 8/8 (RJB). Nevertheless, their nesting is something to keep in mind and look for next year at South Beaver Creek.
According to the Lincoln Co. Health & Human Services (http://www.lincolncountyhealth.com/EH/WNVEnglish.htm), West Nile Virus is most prevalent during May-October and can infect birds, horses, and humans. In Lincoln County, a total of 3 AMERICAN CROWS have tested positive for West Nile Virus since testing began in 2004. Two of these crows were found in 2006; one in Depoe Bay and one in Newport. The other crow was found just north of Newport in 2007. In 2008, nine birds were tested and none were positive for West Nile Virus. There have been no human cases of West Nile Virus in Lincoln County. The State of Oregon laboratory is analyzing dead crows or jays. Persons who find a dead crow or jay in Lincoln Co. are requested to call Lincoln County Environmental Health (at 541-265-4127) to discuss laboratory analysis for West Nile Virus. The crow or jay would have to be freshly dead (dead less than 24 hours; no maggots, etc; and dead not because of obvious physical trauma/injury). Note: Do not handle dead crows or jays with bare hands; use protective gloves. Keep the dead bird triple bagged and cold. If you find one on a weekend: triple bag the bird(s) and freeze or "ice" it; make the call to report it on the next working day. More information is available at their web site.
Single WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS were near the Newport Bayfront on 6/5 (PL); HMSC on 6/18 (RL), and Newport City Hall on 7/3 (CP). 2 were at the HMSC on 8/8 (RJB).
The 7/21 YBNFT led by RP & DG to Beaver Creek was graced by an adult HERMIT WARBLER feeding a fledgling.
In Toledo, CP discovered YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT on 6/17 that was present through 6/27 (CP, DF, ME, PS & CK, JL). This is our 7th record (SemiL; FN).
DF found a CHIPPING SPARROW at Thornton Creek on 7/19 that is the first reported this year.
In recent years, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS have been appearing in early summer, and this year a male was in northeast Newport on 6/10 (CP), and another male was photographed in Lincoln Co. during 3 days in mid-July (TT).
A male LAZULI BUNTING was singing at Thornton Creek on 6/5 (DF), and a female bunting at CP's Toledo home on 6/7 that CP first reported as a Lazuli Bunting was a rare INDIGO BUNTING that is the 4th record for Lincoln Co. (SemiL; FN).
[Image Not Included: Jack Doyle's July 5 photo of an adult male and a female or juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird on a black-tailed deer near the Salmon River. Have you seen a cowbird on a cow?]
DF had a singing BULLOCK'S ORIOLE near his Thornton Creek home in May, one was at CP's red hot poker plants in Toledo during 6/4-9 (CP; JL; HH & JS), and AK found another at the HMSC on 8/6 (DG; RL).
Many observers noted that RED CROSSBILLS were exceptionally more common this summer at feeders near the coast, and many seemed unusually tame. But none were detected inland near Thornton Creek (DF). Their calls in a video of some at DV's home in Lincoln City were tentatively identified as Type 3 (MP) or Type 10 (CW). Along the Clatsop Co. coast, MP reported some apparent Type 4 in early June, and noted that Type 4's come to feeders, but Type 3's rarely do here. These types are difficult to distinguish, but they may be separated into different species in the future (e.g., http://www.uwyo.edu/benkman/pdfs%20of%20papers/benkman_2007_colorado_birds.pdf).
RB does not remember reports of fledgling crossbills here before, but DV had a male feeding a fledgling at her Lincoln City feeder during 7/4-10.
During 8/10-12, WH wrote about his observations at South Beach, Beaver Creek, and Cape Perpetua: "As our large Sitka Spruce cone crop is ripening, and turning from green to tan, the now-abundant crossbills are showing a lot of indications they are about to nest. I am seeing and hearing a lot of singles, pairs, and trios flying around. I am also hearing lots of short song phrases, instead of just the call notes. ... The crossbills I have heard the past few days have sounded pretty much like our regular spruce specialist type, and the others I was hearing a week or so ago seem to have departed."
On 8/11, CT saw a female Red Crossbill feeding a fledgling in Yachats and counted 5 recently fledged young. On 8/15, 3 dead juveniles were found near a Yachats' feeder that has been kept clean and dry so that disease transmission at the feeder did not appear to be the cause of death (fide BB).
Other birds also may be starting to nest rather than ending nesting as one might suppose in mid-August, since CT saw a female PINE SISKIN "collecting cottony nesting material and carrying it to the spruces on the east side of Highway 101" at Boiler Bay on 8/11.
[Image Not Included: Dawn Villaescusa's July 10 photo of an adult male Red Crossbill feeding a fledgling at Dawn's feeder in Lincoln City. Dawn writes: "he ate several seeds, then regurgitated them into the baby's mouth." Photo from and more information at http://dvillabirds.blogspot.com/2012/07/story-of-my-red-crossbills-part-2.html]
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Don Albright, Cherry Alexander, EV Armitage, Betty Bahn, Carl Ball, RJ Baltierra (RJB), Range Bayer, Birding Oregon (http://birdingoregon.info/), BirdNotes.net, Bureau of Land Management, Ken Chamberlain, Rebecca Cheek, Neal Coenen, Dick Demarest, eBird.org (location and observer not accessible in "View and Explore Data" for "All Observations" but available through "Bar Charts"), Ralph Eccles, Mark Elliot, Darrel Faxon (see some of DF's bird records and his articles at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#thornton_creek), fide ("as reported by" someone other than the observer), Jeff Gilligan, Greg Gillson, Dawn Grafe, Bird Guide Pelagic Trip out of Newport (info about pelagic trips at http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/), Jeff Harding, Hendrik Herlyn, Ken Hilton, Wayne Hoffman, Deb Holland, Cheryl Horton, Eric Horvath, Tim Janzen (TJa), Tim Johnson (TJo), Carol Karlen, Amy Kocourek, Janet Lamberson, Pete Lawson, Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LCBNO/), Bob Llewellyn (BLl), Bob Lockett (BLoc), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy & Laurie Lowe, Thomas Meinzen (TMe), Tom Mickel (TMi), Emma Nelson, Lars Norgren, 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://birding.aba.org/maillistdigest/OR01), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Pamela Otley, Ram Papish, Mike Patterson, Diane Pettey, Chuck Philo, Paul Reed, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive@OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Jamie Simmons, Shawn Stephensen, Douglas Stotz, Paul Sullivan, Rob Suryan, Bob Tardif, Thomas Thurman, Craig Tumer, Dawn Villaescusa, Sheena Wheeler, Jason Wilder, Charlie Wright, Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (http://yaquina.info/ybn/) Field Trip (YBNFT).
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, COQUILLE POINT (along #67): southeast corner of Sally's Bend at about mile 3.5 along north Yaquina Bay Road, CUTLER CITY WETLANDS TRAIL: Cutler City is part of Lincoln City between north and south Siletz Bay and to go to the Trail, turn off HWY 101 onto SW 63rd and proceed 1/4 mile to a small pull-off on the right; ECKMAN LAKE (#84): lake 2 mi east of Waldport along HWY 34, FOGARTY CREEK STATE PARK: north of Boiler Bay, HMSC (#75): OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of the HMSC, JOSEPHINE YOUNG PARK (#53): on west end of SW 65th St in Cutler City, 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, SALMON RIVER ESTUARY (#44 and 45): estuary at north end of Lincoln Co.; the mouth is in Tillamook Co., 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, YBNJ: Yaquina Bay North Jetty, YBSJ (#71): Yaquina Bay South Jetty, YAQUINA HEAD OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREA (#65): headland north of Newport.
GR.WHITE-FRONTED GEESE (45) were first spotted at Sally's Bend on 9/2 (JH), and 1 was also at Idaho Flats on 9/16 (JK). There are 2 waves of fall migrants: one in late August/early Sept. and another in late Sept./Oct. (RL). On [5 Sept. 1988], RL found one that was radio-tagged near his Eckman Lake home in late August that was later shot by a hunter in the Mexican Highlands south of El Paso, Texas. This led to the discovery of a substantial wintering area for white-fronts and other waterfowl that at the time was unknown to biologists.
On 9/25, many White-fronts and some CACKLING GEESE were migrating south through the Willamette Valley, and JL saw two skeins of unidentified geese flying southward high overhead at Hudson Loop between Toledo and Siletz.
First of season waterfowl arrivals include: GADWALL at Sally's Bend on 9/2 (JH), AMERICAN WIGEON at Idaho Flats on 9/5 (RL), and EURASIAN WIGEON at Idaho Flats on 9/24 (DV). American Wigeon numbers quickly built up with 220 at south Siletz Bay on 9/15 (DV).
A CINNAMON TEAL, uncommon in fall, visited Beaver Creek Marsh on 9/16 (EH).
A BUFFLEHEAD at Yachats on 9/1 (VT) is a month early for migration and may have foregone migration and dispersed from where it oversummered.
MR photographed a NORTHERN BOBWHITE in a vegetation strip in downtown Waldport on 9/17. It probably was raised in captivity and is an escapee; LN notes that their eggs can be ordered for 75 cents.
A RED-NECKED GREBE with a lingering red neck was appreciated at Seal Rocks during the 9/15 YBNFT led by LO.
From land, the only tubenoses were 1 BULLER'S SHEARWATER during a 9/1 seawatch at Spanish Head (PP) and SOOTY SHEARWATERS (see following sections).
Offshore, tubenoses discerned during the 9/15 Bird Guide Pelagic Trip (BGPT) included BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES, NORTHERN FULMARS, PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, Sooty Shearwaters, Buller's Shearwaters, and FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS (GG).
Sooties normally occur near the coastline here during the summer, but binoculars or spotting scopes are generally needed to view them from land because they are often a half mile or more away. At 7-8 AM on 9/13 from the D River in Lincoln City to the mouth of Siletz Bay, PP reported "one of the more impressive Sooty Shearwater movements I've seen locally, with a sustained average around 400/min pulsing to 1,000/minute headed north"; at a rate of 400/min, about 24,000 would have passed during the 60 minutes of his observations, but more could have passed before or after or during the pulses. Up to 10,000 Sooties were guesstimated between Yaquina Head and Ona Beach State Park during 9/15-18 (YBNFT led by LO; BGPT [GG]; RC; WH).
On 9/19, FR estimated thousands of Sooties off Fogarty Creek State Park. The same day at Boiler Bay, PP guesstimated 15,000 in the morning and at 6:30-7:30 PM, he noted a: "Massive group present shifting back and forth preparing to roost. Densest 3/4 mile to the north (close in off Fogarty Creek State Park) and extending in an almost unbroken arc around the point at least a mile to the south off Depoe Bay, with still more disconnected slicks of thousands visible further offshore. Impossible to get an accurate count but I would make a conservative semi-educated guess of 200,000-250,000 in view. Certainly by far the most I've ever seen in one place away from the South Jetty of the Columbia River (SJCR)." PP posted 2 video clips taken at Boiler Bay, with the 2nd one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn7MhwAOdZA) pointed north off Fogarty Creek that pans from right to left to show the shearwater rafts floating on the water as well as shearwaters swarming in flight. This video illustrates that estimating high numbers of them accurately can be futile using typical methods of counting each bird or estimating numbers by counting guessed "blocks" of a hundred or even a thousand because of the long distance and movement of the shearwaters as well as their disappearing from view with passing waves (see counting methods at http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/bird-counting-101).
The nearshore abundance of Sooties appears to have been brief. During 9/21-23, Sooties were absent at Ona Beach and Beverly Beach (north of Yaquina Head), and a much reduced 1,200 were at Yaquina Head (RC; JL; WH).
Single Sooties have rarely been noticed in Yaquina Bay east of the jetties. The morning of 9/18, WH discovered 180 just off the Coast Guard Station (which is just east of the Yaquina Bay Bridge). Later that morning, RC estimated about 5,000 in the channel near Sally's Bend, with many sitting on the water and vocalizing; an ODFW employee reported them to RL who also saw them; and PL independently reported thousands of them in the same area, too.
A signal of something very special is when so many separate observers independently and promptly relay on what they have seen.
[Image Not Included: Sooty Shearwaters in a dense, linear raft in the channel south of Newport's LNG tank. The shearwaters were distant and could be overlooked by casual observers. Photo by Owen Schmidt (http://oschmidt.net/OwenLSchmidtLLC/SOSH.html [link no longer valid on 12/16/2012].]
At noon, PR & RB started going upstream from the jetties to the LNG tank and did not find any shearwaters other than a raft at Idaho Flats and another raft upstream of Sally's Bend between Navigation Marker 14 (River Mile 3.2) and Coquille Point (River Mile 3.7). RB guesstimated a total of 5,700, but they were so densely packed that there could have been many more. Other observers also saw them in those areas that afternoon (GT; HR; DV; RC; JG; OS), with JG commenting "I have seen large numbers go up the Columbia estuary at least to the Astoria-Megler Bridge. I have never seen them on such a small bay. The big raft of birds was dense."
The shearwaters were reluctant to leave, since PR & RB saw 4 young people in a rental boat speedily motoring back and forth through the flock at Idaho Flats, seemingly to disturb the shearwaters, and the shearwaters flew up but resolutely returned to land and raft together again. One time the boat was even surrounded by shearwaters sitting on the water. Finally, the boaters evidently tired and left, though the shearwaters remained in essentially the same area. Later in mid-afternoon, DV also saw a different boat slowly approach a shearwater raft without causing the shearwaters to leave (see photo).
At dusk near the LNG tank, EH noted that there were still roughly 5,000 shearwaters, and their "murmurings and conversation could be heard floating over the water. They were not diving, did not seem to be foraging. Some were preening, some flying about, but most just resting."
For all observations on 9/18, no one reported any Sooties diving into the water, and sometimes they were a half mile or more from observers, which made accurate counts of Sooties in the dense rafts impossible. In spite of the abundance of shearwaters, a casual observer could have missed them altogether or mistook them for a raft of waterfowl, particularly scoters, because they were usually very distant as illustrated in most photos that were probably magnified by telephoto lenses by RL (http://www.flickr.com/photos/24707703@N06/), DV (http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af261/villaesc/Birds/IMG_7247_1_zpsacc2f9e2.jpg), and OS (http://oschmidt.net/OwenLSchmidtLLC/SOSH.html [[link no longer valid on 12/16/2012]).
On 9/19, almost all had left by 11:15 AM, but CP saw about 130 lingering in a raft in the channel near Navigation Marker 14. They were moving upstream, so CP went to Coquille Point, where he had a good view of them and could even hear them as the shearwaters were only about 100 yards away; they went slightly upstream to about River Mile 4, which was the furthest upstream that they were reported during both days. At 6 PM, JL saw a flock of 35 fly upstream past the LNG tank area, and at dusk, EH tallied 73 by the LNG tank in a raft.
At dawn on 9/20, EH saw no shearwaters, so the remaining ones had left.
[Image Not Included: Sooty Shearwaters with dark bellies and partially light-colored underwings flying or floating in a raft in the channel north of Idaho Flats late in the morning of Sept. 18. While rafting at a distance, they could be mistaken as waterfowl, but their narrow-winged profile and flight manner is unlike that of ducks. This is a much closer look than many observers saw on Sept. 18, even with binoculars or a spotting scope. Photo (presumably with a zoom lens) by Roy Lowe that is 1 (YB7) of his 7 photos of the Sept. 18 shearwater flocks at Yaquina Bay (http://www.flickr.com/photos/24707703@N06/).]
There seemed to be an unusually high number of Sooty Shearwaters nearshore during 9/13-9/19, and 2 or more Sooties in Yaquina Bay upstream of the Yaquina Bay Bridge have, to RB's recollection, not been reported before. However, this was a subtle phenomenon that could have been missed by casual observers or observers without optical aids. Even if seen, the shearwaters could have easily been dismissed as distant ducks. For this Yaquina Bay event, we were fortunate to have keen observers who not only saw but who promptly reported it.
How many other subtle phenomena, magnificent in their own way, could we overlook?
Why were so many Sooty Shearwaters here? As JL points out, they migrate 40,000 miles a year (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/08/060808-bird-migration.html), so why did so many choose our area for a while? They do not appear to have been stressed, since there has not been any mass mortality reported with this event. BLo notes that his team (B&SLo, L&VO) only found 1 dead Sooty in August and only 1 in Sept. through 9/26 along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach so mortality does not appear to be the cause. Perhaps, their food was unusually abundant or easily available in this area during this time or food was lacking in other areas. On 9/15, WH noted Sooty Shearwater flocks between Yaquina Head and the YBNJ and that their behavior indicated that shearwaters seemed "to be feeding on some kind of baitfish that is in large swarms, rather than the tight balls that herring, for example, form. Based on season; shape, size and behavior of the flocks, anchovies seem to be a likely candidate." Anchovies also come in estuaries, including Yaquina Bay.
Even though we do not definitively know how many were present or the reason for their presence, it was, as RC observed "Truly a natural spectacle!"
[Image Not Included: A boat-bound, attentive golden retriever (?) intently examining a floating raft of Sooty Shearwaters. The raft was in the channel upstream of the LNG tank west of Sally's Bend the afternoon of Sept. 18. Photo by Dawn Villaescusa, who wrote "... a boat with a man & a woman split the raft and were taking pictures - the boat went very slowly and very few of the shearwaters even left the water." Photo from http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af261/villaesc/Birds/IMG_7249_1_zpsac8da8a1.jpg]
BROWN PELICANS seemed to become more frequent this month, including inside bays, with a peak count of 93 at Boiler Bay on 9/20 (DV).
The seasonal peak of GREAT BLUE HERONS at Yaquina Bay embayments was 130 on 9/1; their numbers diminished in late Sept. (RB). GREAT EGRET numbers appear to be declining earlier this year, with the high at Yaquina Bay in August and a Sept. peak of 36 on 9/1 (RB). In August, ME tallied a peak of 18 Great Egrets at Siletz Bay.
OSPREY presence has noticeably diminished, but one was still at Yachats on 9/14 (BB) and at the HMSC on 9/18 (DV).
We had several reports of single COOPER'S HAWKS, but LO had 3 in north Beaver Creek on 9/8--perhaps a family group with a fledgling?
After only 1 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK in July and in August, they became much more common in Sept., with 10 reports of singletons from the Salmon River south to Yachats (RL; DV; PL; L&JF; CT), and CT counted 2 at Brown Park southeast of Lincoln City on 9/20.
Our first MERLIN of the season was at Toledo on 9/16 (JL), with other singletons at the Salmon River on 9/18 (ME) and southwest Newport on 9/23 (RB).
There were many PEREGRINE FALCON reports, with CP finding one large first-year female that had been hit by a vehicle just after it had caught a BAND-TAILED PIGEON near the Toledo Airport on 9/16.
The only MARBLED GODWITS were 14 viewed during the 9/15 BGPT (GG).
1-2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were at a Beaver Creek mudflat area (probably all about 0.2 mile east of Ona Beach Boat Launch and north of Beaver Creek Road) during 9/1-20 (JL & CP; JH; EH; DH). 1-4 were also at Kernville mudflats (Lincoln City) during 9/11-13 (ME) and Yachats in mid-Sept. (BW).
1-5 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS visited Agate Beach Wayside north of Newport on 9/1 (PP), Josephine Young Park on 9/2 (JH), and Beverly Beach north of Yaquina Head on 9/22 (JL).
A first of season WILSON'S SNIPE was at Beaver Creek Marsh on 9/16 (EH) and at the marsh southwest of Idaho Flats on 9/18 (DV).
The season's last CASPIAN TERN was noted on 9/15 during the BGPT (GG) and at Driftwood Beach south of Seal Rocks (DV).
The 9/15 BGPT noticed 3 COMMON TERNS, 1 ARCTIC TERN, and one each of SOUTH POLAR SKUA, POMARINE JAEGER, and PARASITIC JAEGER (GG). Their rarest species was SCRIPPS'S MURRELETS (2) that formerly were included in Xantus's Murrelet (GG).
There were several sightings of MARBLED MURRELETS and RHINOCEROS AUKLETS offshore (BGPT) and from shore. The BGPT also found some CASSIN'S AUKLETS (GG), but our only TUFTED PUFFINS were 2 at Boiler Bay on 9/3 (JH).
A BARRED OWL hooted at north Beaver Creek on 9/9 (LO) and Hudson Loop between Toledo and Siletz on 9/18 (JL).
The first-ever RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER for Wandemere visited on 9/1 (RC). RC wrote: "Based on the lack of spotting on the back, dull belly, and incomplete red bib, I believe it was a bird that hatched earlier this summer. That age guess also fits with our location - we're not good habitat for sapsuckers, and this time of year we get wandering juveniles of species we never see otherwise."
JH reported in eBird seeing a SAY'S PHOEBE at Josephine Young Park on 9/1 and another the next day at the HMSC. Although still uncommon to rare, they seem to have become less so in recent years. Prior to 1993, we only had 3 records (SemiL), but since 2000, they were reported during Feb.-April in 2001 and 2006, there was 1 sighting each year during 2009-2011, and one was also seen earlier this year in March (FN).
On 9/1, one WESTERN SCRUB-JAY flew with 2 STELLER'S JAYS in southwest Newport and another scrub-jay was near the Newport Post Office (RB). On 9/2, PR saw 2 flying with 2 Steller's Jays near his Newport feeder. Anyone else seeing scrub-jays and Steller's together? CP also found a scrub-jay at Grant St. in Newport on 9/12 where one has been regularly.
Fall departures include: WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE and CASSIN'S VIREO at D River in Lincoln City on 9/10 (PP), PURPLE MARTIN in South Beach on 9/11 (EH), VAUX'S SWIFT at Newport on 9/13 (DM), VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW in the Toledo area on 9/16 (CP & JL), BARN SWALLOW at Beaver Creek on 9/20 (DH), and WARBLING VIREO at Millport Slough in Lincoln City on 9/21 (DV).
On 8/30, DV found 8 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES at Cutler City Wetlands, and many observers also noted an influx thereafter, with a peak count of at least 30 along Peterson Ridge, 6 miles south of Toledo on 9/15 (CP). On 9/16, BLo saw 2 possible WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES at Thiel Creek, but he didn't get a view of their face. We haven't had any White-breasted Nuthatches reported in Lincoln County since 1996 (FN), though they are regular to the east in the Willamette Valley.
The morning of 9/1, CP was on Grass Mountain east of Newport on the Lincoln Co. side of the Lincoln/Benton Co. border and had remarkable finds of a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE and a flock of 23 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS.
Nocturnal SWAINSON'S THRUSH migration can start in late August in Oregon (http://www.birdfellow.com/journal/2011/09/30/flight_call_season). At 6 AM on 9/7, RC heard 2-3 calls per second overhead at Wandemere and remarked "I'm always delighted to hear them here at home because often their calls are lost in the wind/surf noise." Inland at Hudson Loop on 9/15, JL went out at dawn to listen for Swainson's and "Between 6:00 and 6:30 AM I figured that I heard about 12, then the calls tapered off, and robins started calling, so I went in for coffee." Their migration can continue into early Oct. (DF).
More first of season arrivals include: TOWNSEND'S WARBLER at Cutler City Wetlands on 8/27 (DV), YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER at Cutler City Wetlands on 9/2 (JH), FOX SPARROW at D River in Lincoln City on 9/10 (PP), RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET at Fogarty Creek State Park on 9/21 (DV), AMERICAN PIPIT at YBNJ on 9/22 (RB), and 4 LAPLAND LONGSPURS at YBSJ on 9/23 (WH).
CEDAR WAXWINGS were frequent with a peak count of 110+ at D River in Lincoln City on 9/10 (PP). 25+ were working over the new cones on Douglas firs near Logsden on 9/17-18 (SH).
Fall departures include BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK at Yachats on 9/3 (BB), ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and YELLOW WARBLER at D River in Lincoln City on 9/10 (PP), WESTERN TANAGER at Hudson Loop between Toledo and Siletz on 9/14 (JL), COMMON YELLOWTHROAT at Brown Park southeast of Lincoln City on 9/20 (CT), HERMIT WARBLER at Millport Slough in Lincoln City on 9/21 (DV), and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER and WILSON'S WARBLER in Toledo on 9/21 (CP).
In Sept., there can sometimes be days of extraordinary warbler abundance. All afternoon of 9/21, CP reported that he had never seen so many warblers in the trees around his Toledo home. Most were Black-throated Gray Warblers, but there were also many Townsend's Warblers and a few Wilson's Warblers.
On 9/18, PR saw the first of season DARK-EYED JUNCO for his Newport home. They nest at some sites elsewhere in Lincoln Co., but are fall-spring residents at many other sites, including PR's home.
RED CROSSBILLS continued to be common, and low numbers of PINE SISKINS were also noted.
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Bird Guide Pelagic Trip out (BGPT) of Newport (info about pelagic trips at http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/), Birding Oregon (http://birdingoregon.info/), BirdNotes.net, Rebecca Cheek, eBird.org (location and observer not accessible in "View and Explore Data" for "All Observations" but available through "Bar Charts"), Mark Elliott, Darrel Faxon (see some of DF's bird records and his articles at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#thornton_creek), fide ("as reported by" someone other than the observer), Linda & Johnny Fink, Jeff Gilligan, Greg Gillson, Jeff Hayes, Wayne Hoffman, Deb Holland, Eric Horvath, Signe Hurd, Jim Kopitzke, Janet Lamberson, Pete Lawson, Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LCBNO/), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Dave Miller, Lars Norgren, 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://birding.aba.org/maillistdigest/OR01), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Chuck Philo, Phil Pickering, Fran Recht, Paul Reed, Mike Rivers, Hal Ross, Owen Schmidt, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive@OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Vjera Thompson, Glory Truax, Craig Tumer, Dawn Villaescusa, Ben Wishnek, 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, CRITESER'S MOORAGE: downstream of Toledo at about Mile 10.2 on Yaquina Bay Road, CUTLER CITY WETLANDS TRAIL: Cutler City is part of Lincoln City between north and south Siletz Bay and to go to the Trail, turn off HWY 101 onto SW 63rd and proceed 1/4 mile to a small pull-off on the right; ECKMAN LAKE (#84): lake 2 mi east of Waldport along HWY 34, FISHING ROCK STATE PARK: a small park about 300 ft north of Fogarty Creek State Park along HWY 101 and south of Lincoln Beach, FOGARTY CREEK STATE PARK (#58): north of Boiler Bay, 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, PIXIELAND: former amusement park near Otis along Salmon River being restored to a natural site (http://www.opb.org/programs/ofg/segments/view/1773), SALLY'S BEND (#66): large Yaquina Bay embayment east of the LNG tank, SALMON RIVER ESTUARY (#44 and 45): estuary at north end of Lincoln Co.; the mouth is in Tillamook Co., YBSJ (#71): Yaquina Bay South Jetty, YAQUINA HEAD OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREA (#65): headland north of Newport (vehicle entrance fee without a recreation pass such as the Oregon Pacific Coast Passport or America the Beautiful Passes honored by federal agencies).
Heavy GR. WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE migration continued from Sept. until 10/4 and then scattered reports of ones flying persisted until 10/16 (PP). The night of 10/2, DG noted that "there were literally hundreds of Greater White-fronted Geese flying over my house in Toledo around 10:30 PM. Clear night...fullish moon." During migration, many often drop out and linger and this year was no exception with 1-7, mostly juveniles, grounded through at least 10/16 (many observers at many locations). On 5 Sept. 1988, a radio-tagged one fortuitously landed at Eckman Lake near RL's home. It was later traced to a previously unknown wintering area in the Mexican Highlands; it is included in "Geographic Variation in Migratory Behavior of Greater White-fronted Geese" at http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Auk/v113n04/p0889-p0901.pdf
SNOW GEESE have been rarely reported here in recent years. Starting in 1996, we only had reports of singletons flying with other species of waterfowl during single days in August 1996, Feb. 2004, and Oct. 2010, and 1 grounded at the YBSJ during 3 days in Dec. 2011 (FN). The one at the YBSJ in Dec. 2011 was the most seen (5 observers).
We only have 2 records of the similar ROSS'S GOOSE (singletons migrating with Aleutian Cackling Geese in April of 2000 and 2007)(FN).
[Image Not Included: A white Snow Goose with a black "grin patch" on its bill near the HMSC Nature Trail at Idaho Flats on Oct. 4. Photo by Roy Lowe.]
This fall was exceptional. On 10/3, AK saw 2 Ross's or Snow Geese fly over her office at the HMSC, and TW independently saw 4 Snow Geese flying over Idaho Flats that he distinguished from Ross's Geese by their call. 1-2 continued to be reported in the Idaho Flats area through 10/9 (15 other observers), and CP found 1 grounded with Western Canada Geese at about Milepost 8 along north Yaquina Bay Road on 10/21. Single Snow Geese were also noted flying with white-fronted geese at the HMSC on 10/4 (RL) and with scoters at Boiler Bay on 10/20 (PP). 1 Snow Goose was also reported at Boiler Bay on 10/17 (GM & RS).
Since Snow Geese are generally seen in flocks of other migrating waterfowl, it pays to look closely at migrating goose and scoter flocks to see if there are any Snow Geese!
Starting in 2007, YB&N has been a project partner of the International Brant Monitoring Project (IBMP) (http://www.padillabay.gov/brant/agencies.html), and RB relays on sightings of significant numbers of Brant for Lincoln Co. to their Observation Log (see link to "Log" on the bottom of web page and select 2012/2013 for current records).
A few Brant sometimes oversummer and move up and down the coast. On 10/4, BLl reported 16 flying at Yaquina Bay with 2 Snow Geese west of the Yaquina Bay Bridge, but this is very early for Brant migration, and they were not relocated. Brant migration is generally first evident along the coast, and PP saw 2 passing during his 4.25 hr Boiler Bay seawatch on 10/20, and 1 was also seen passing the next day during a 3.25 hr Boiler Bay seawatch (PP, WH, SF & others).
The first Brant reported at Yaquina Bay embayments where they overwinter were 6 at Idaho Flats on 10/26 (RB). 6 were also reported the next day near the Yaquina Bay Bridge (ECAS). In the past, they arrived between 10/22 and 11/4 (http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1957/8081/vol.%206%20pg.%20723-780.pdf).
Oct. 16 was GOOSE DAY! At 3 AM, several of BB's friends heard large flights of noisy geese flying south over Yachats and later reported them to BB. Starting at about 4 AM, CP heard many unidentified geese flying south over his Toledo home. Still in the darkness at 5-6 AM, PP also heard big numbers of what he assumed were ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE flying over his home in Lincoln City. At Yachats at 7:25 & 8:45 AM, BB noted about 300+ unidentified, noisy geese flying south. During a 7:30-12:30 Boiler Bay seawatch, PP estimated 4,000+ Cackling Goose. Around 9 AM, RC was briefly outside and saw 2 huge flocks totaling about 1,000 presumable Aleutians fly over Wandemere about 0.5 mi north of Ona Beach State Park. Until about 10 AM, CP heard and saw many goose flocks heading south over Toledo and then Newport, where he worked outside. CP notes that he has never seen or heard so many geese in this area as passed that morning.
On 10/21, CP saw an Aleutian Cackling Goose with Mallards at the "red barn" McNary Lane pond/pasture at about Milepost 5 along HWY 20 between Newport and Toledo. A flock of 180 Aleutians also flew south past Boiler Bay on 10/25 (PP).
Our only SWAN was one not identified to species flying by Boiler Bay the morning of 10/21 (PP, WH, SF & others).
Not all bird migrants make it. 3 dead NORTHERN PINTAILS were found in Sept. along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO).
Waterfowl arrivals include RUDDY DUCK at Yaquina Bay on 10/4 (CF), a female REDHEAD passing Boiler Bay on (PP), and CANVASBACKS at Eckman Lake during the 10/20 YBNFT.
We had a dozen reports of HARLEQUIN DUCKS with high counts of 7-8 at YBSJ on 10/6&16 (TD; KM) and 7 at Seal Rocks on 10/6 (SS).
3-4 LONG-TAILED DUCKS passed Boiler Bay during PP's seawatches on 10/16 & 20, and a singleton was near the HMSC on 10/28 (ECAS).
A significant southerly SURF SCOTER movement was noticed passing Boiler Bay on 10/16 (8,000+/5.0 hours) and later in the month (PP).
COMMON MERGANSER concentrations continued with 64 in a flock at Yaquina Bay on 10/5 (CT) and 24 at Millport Slough east of south Siletz Bay on 10/6 (OJ). RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS began arriving en masse with 50 flying by Boiler Bay on 10/16 (PP).
4 RED-NECKED GREBES at the YBSJ still had lingering rufous on the ventral sides of their necks on 10/16 (KM).
HORNED GREBES are common in small groups, but they can aggregate near low tide, as the 120 that KM found at Sally's Bend on 10/16 appear to have done.
Horned's can vary in winter plumage and be misidentified as the less common EARED GREBES. 4 Eared's on 10/16 (KM) were the first of the season.
The ECAS field trip found our only CLARK'S GREBE, a singleton with Western Grebes at the YBSJ on 10/27.
The big SOOTY SHEARWATER incursion last month was not accompanied by a big die-off as would be expected if they were weak or sick. In Sept., only 1 dead Sooty was found beached north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO).
Offshore, BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES were noted from the 9/25 cruise ship Star Princess 55 miles offshore (JW & others) and the 10/6 & 20 Bird Guide Pelagic Trips (BGPT)(GG & others). A LAYSAN ALBATROSS was viewed during the 10/6 BGPT. 3,413 NORTHERN FULMARS were part of a contingent of ten thousand birds trailing 5 fishing trawlers about 30 miles off Lincoln City during the 10/6 BGPT. PINK-FOOTED, BULLER'S, SOOTY SHEARWATERS, and FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS were noted during each boat trip, with SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATERS and a possible WILSON'S STORM-PETREL only found during the 10/20 BGPT.
From shore at Boiler Bay, fulmars were noted on 10/16 & 21, with 10,000+ estimated passing during a 4.25 hr seawatch on 10/20 (PP; PP, WH, SF & others). Sooty Shearwaters were noted at Boiler Bay with 500+ still on 10/26 (PP), and 1-6 Short-taileds were discerned on 10/16 & 20 (PP). A Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel was also there on 10/16 (PP).
Oregon's 5th BROWN BOOBY was seen and photographed during the 10/6 BGPT (GG), and from shore PP had an extended look at a juvenile Brown Booby about a half mile off Boiler Bay on 10/16.
BROWN PELICANS were frequent early in the month, and there appeared to be a strong southerly movement during 10/16-21, with a peak total of 7,000+ during a 5-hour Boiler Bay seawatch to 12:30 on 10/16 (PP), 220 flying south in 0.5 hour in the afternoon at Seal Rocks on 10/16 (KM), 800 during a 1 hour watch the morning of 10/16 at Lincoln City (DV), and an average of about 300-400 per hour during 4.25 and 3.25 hour Boiler Bay morning seawatches on 10/20 & 21 (PP; PP, WH, SF & others). Pelicans were along the coast and in lower bays, with one loner between Criteser's Moorage and Toledo boat yard at about River Mile 11 on 10/20 (SK). The upstream pelican may have been there because of forage fish, since SK noted on 10/9 for the Criteser's area "There's signs of large bait fish schools up the bay this far. One angler said he went through a school of anchovies about 4 inches long this morning. I've seen bristling schools of baitfish all summer long out here."
GREAT EGRET numbers at Yaquina Bay embayments unexpectedly plummeted in mid-September with only 2 on 9/28 (RB). The explanation may be that they moved up Yaquina Estuary. MH reports that there have been many between Milepost 6 and 12.5 starting in mid-Sept., with 30 in that area on 10/4. They may have moved upstream to take advantage of the forage fish available there.
A GREEN HERON lingered at the Yachats Common Park on 10/5 (CT) and Eckman Lake during the 10/20 YBNFT.
Our latest OSPREY was at Newport on 10/27 (ECAS).
1-2 WHITE-TAILED KITES were at Logsden on 10/7 where they had been absent for several months (BLl) and at the Salmon River east of HWY 101 on 10/27-29 (PS & CK; DV & DH; DV).
RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS became common, with 13 reports of singletons. 2 were at the HMSC on 10/7 (SS), and we had fascinating reports of 2 flying together and interacting over Yachats on 9/28 (BB) and over Toledo on 10/6 (CP). CP notes that crows did not mob them like crows would do for Red-tailed Hawks.
DV discovered 2 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS at the Salmon River on 10/26, and ER also saw one there the same day. 1 lingered on 10/27 & 29 (PS & CK; DV). The ECAS field trip found another Rough-legged about 1-2 miles inland at Beaver Creek on 10/27. These are only the 3rd and 4th reports since 2006; we also had reports in Jan. 2011 and Feb. 2012 (FN).
[Image Not Included: One of two light-morph Rough-legged Hawks with feathered legs atop a Sitka spruce at the Salmon River Estuary on Oct. 26. Photo by Dawn Villaescusa from http://s1014.beta.photobucket.com/user/villaesc/media/Birds/IMG_9693_1.jpg.html]
Oystercatcher researcher Elise Elliott-Smith (eelliott-smith@usgs.gov) is interested in concentrations of 10 or more along the Oregon Coast with the number, date, location, and time of observation, so that tidal conditions can be estimated. RB relays on Lincoln Co. reports.
On a balmy 10/16, KM counted 24 at south Seal Rocks near the time of a predicted +9.8 ft high tide. Such large numbers are often reported near such high tides in winter. Oystercatchers may remain more dispersed at lower high tides when not as many areas are submerged. Stormy weather was not a factor in this concentration.
On 10/18, DH tallied 25 at Seal Rocks at 10:26-11:29 AM in between tides, and GM & RS reported 20 at Depoe Bay at 12:55-1:05 PM before a predicted +9.6 ft high tide. Those sites are a long ways apart, and the total suggests that there were at least 45 that day, which is more than reported at there in summer. Simultaneous counts at many rocky intertidal areas along the Lincoln County coast near high tides predicted to be +9.0 ft or greater would be interesting--could there be a hundred or more along the Lincoln County coast in winter?
[Image Not Included: Wandering Tattler at Yaquina Head on Sept. 25. Photo by David Adamson.]
During the 10/6 BGPT about 30 miles off Lincoln City, CALIFORNIA GULLS were a large component of ten thousand birds trailing 5 fishing trawlers. In mid-October, many Californias were southerly bound, with WH finding an average of about 50+/minute past Yaquina Head on 10/13, and PP tallying an average of 2,000/hr during a 5-hour Boiler Bay seawatch on 10/16.
From shore, 1-2 SABINE'S GULLS were found during Boiler Bay seawatches on 10/16 & 20 (PP).
Abandoned or lost fishing line can be deadly. On 9/22, a juvenile WESTERN GULL was found dead along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach that was entangled in thin but strong fishing line (B&SLo, L&VO).
Our only tern was a COMMON TERN passing Boiler Bay on 10/16 (PP).
Offshore, 5 SOUTH POLAR SKUAS were recorded during the 10/6 BGPT (GG), and POMARINE JAEGERS and PARASITIC JAEGERS were recorded from the 9/25 cruise ship 55 miles offshore (JW) and on the 10/6 & 20 BGPT (GG). 1 LONG-TAILED JAEGER was also seen from the 9/25 cruise ship (JW).
From shore, Pomarines were noted at Lincoln City on 10/5 (OJ) and at Boiler Bay on 10/16 & 21 (PP; PP, WH, SF & others). Parasitics (9) were only identified at Boiler Bay on 10/16 (PP).
On Sept. 22, an adult and a juvenile COMMON MURRE were discovered dead along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach, and they were entangled in fishing line that led to their deaths (B&SLo, L&VO).
8-25 MARBLED MURRELETS were recorded offshore during the 10/6&20 BGPT, and as many as 30 were found on 7 days at Boiler Bay (PP; PP, WH, SF, & others; GM & RS; ECAS).
On 6 days at Boiler Bay, as many as 44 ANCIENT MURRELETS were detected (PP; PP, WH, SF, & others; ECAS).
CASSIN'S AUKLETS were noted offshore from the 9/25 cruise ship (JW) and on the 10/6 & 20 BGPT (GG) where they are to be expected. Not expected from shore, there were 3-5 during 10/20, 21, & 25 (PP; eBird), but 10/16 was exceptional with 6,000+ during a 5 hour Boiler Bay seawatch (PP).
The 10/6 BGPT (GG) found our only TUFTED PUFFINS (2).
It was an exceptional month for BARN OWLS--we can go months without any records, but we had reports near Salishan south of Siletz Bay on 9/28 (JP), and at or near Lincoln City on 10/5 (OJ), the HMSC on 10/5 (CT), Logsden on 10/6 (BLl), and in the darkness at the YBSJ on 10/28 (WH). CT noted that the one at HMSC was "Being chased toward the south across Yaquina Bay by a mob of crows."
The 10/6 BGPT found a SHORT-EARED OWL 30 miles offshore (NS, GG). Another was found offshore in Sept. 2010, and onshore our only records since 1995 are in Jan. 1998, Oct. 2002, and March 2007 (FN). In the past 5 years, they are commoner here offshore than over land!
Showing their usual influx in Fall, 7 BARRED OWLS were reported from Siletz/Logsden to Cape Perpetua (PK; MH; J & KL; fide BB; BLl; LO).
JW wrote about what he and others saw on 9/25 from a cruise ship: "This was really surprising. A Northern (red-shafted) Flicker flew by at 55 miles out to sea. It did not appear to be circling the ship, and we never saw it again. To my knowledge, flickers are not nocturnal migrants, and we did not see it yesterday afternoon or evening on the ship while leaving Vancouver B.C., so this bird likely was flying around all morning at sea. We wished it luck as it flew out of sight."
With the latest reorganization of species, falcons are listed after woodpeckers. Single MERLINS were noted on 5 days at Pixieland, Logsden, and Beaver Creek (DV; BLl; RS & GM; DI, NS, & SF). We had many reports of PEREGRINE FALCONS but none of kestrels.
A TROPICAL KINGBIRD was a one-day wonder between the HMSC and Oregon Coast Aquarium the evening of 10/6 that was enjoyed by 8 returning participants of the BGPT. PS&CK found another at Fishing Rock State Park that DV also got to see on 10/9.
[Image Not Included: Tropical Kingbird on the fence at Fishing Rock State Park on Oct. 9. Photo by Paul Sullivan.]
A BLACK PHOEBE was at Boiler Bay on 10/18 (RS & GM). A WESTERN SCRUB-JAY was around SW 9th in Newport the first week of Oct. (RC; DA), and another was at the HMSC on 10/7 (DI & SF).
On 10/27, PS & CK turned east on Three Rocks Rd. by the Salmon River and found our only WESTERN BLUEBIRDS (4).
55 miles offshore on 9/25, JW & others saw and heard 2 AMERICAN PIPITS circling, landing, and following their cruise ship. Onshore, 9 were near the LNG tank on 9/27 (JL; DV & DH), and our last report was of 2 at Boiler Bay on 10/20 (PP).
Arrivals include WESTERN MEADOWLARK near the LNG tank on 9/27 (JL), WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at Cutler City Wetlands on 10/2 (DV), and 1-2 PALM WARBLERS at the HMSC on 10/7 (GG; PO).
Departures include WESTERN TANAGER at Toledo on 9/28 (DG), YELLOW WARBLER and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER at D River (Lincoln City) on 9/28 (PP), COMMON YELLOWTHROAT at Lincoln City on 10/6 (OJ), and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER at Cutler City Wetlands on 10/18 (DV).
CP discovered an immature YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD near the LNG tank the morning of 9/27, but it could not be relocated. It is our first since May 2011 (FN).
PINE SISKINS arrived at places where they had not been before earlier this year and increased where a few had been before. Estimating their numbers is a guess, and our high count was about 300 at Pixieland on 10/3 (DV). The afternoon of 10/6, RC wrote "the alders around the old log pond and lower marshes of North Beaver Creek Rd (just east of Hwy 101 at Ona Beach) were alive with siskin flocks." The afternoon of 10/7 at the Yachat's farmers market, BB added that several flights of probably 150-200 siskins each flew over.
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: David Adamson, Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Bird Guide Pelagic Trip out of Newport (BGPT; info about pelagic trips at http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/), Birding Oregon (http://birdingoregon.info/), BirdNotes.net, Rebecca Cheek, East Cascades Audubon Society (ECAS) field trip reported by JM, TL, and eBird ("Central Oregon Historical Records"); eBird.org (location and observer not accessible in "View and Explore Data" for "All Observations" but available through "Bar Charts"), Tony DeFalco, fide ("as reported by" someone other than the observer), Shawneen Finnegan, Cindy Franklin, Greg Gillson, Dawn Grafe, Wayne Hoffman, Mary Holbert, Deb Holland, David Irons, Oscar Johnson, Penelope Kaczmarek, Carol Karlen, Amy Kocourek, Steve Kupillas, Janet & Karin Lamberson, Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LCBNO/), Tom Lawler, Bob Llewellyn (BLl), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Garrett MacDonald, Kathy Merrifield, 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://birding.aba.org/maillistdigest/OR01), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Pam Otley, Chuck Philo, Jody Picconi, Phil Pickering, Ernie Rose, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive@OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Stanley Senner, Noah Strycker, Paul Sullivan, Rose Swift, Craig Tumer, Dawn Villaescusa, Tom Wainwright, Jay Withgott, 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), 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, FISHING ROCK STATE PARK: a small park about 300 ft north of Fogarty Creek State Park along HWY 101 and south of Lincoln Beach, FOGARTY CREEK STATE PARK (#58): north of Boiler Bay, 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, McNARY LANE POND/PASTURE (near red barn) at about Milepost 5 along HWY 20 between Newport and Toledo, 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, SALMON RIVER ESTUARY (#44 and 45): estuary at north end of Lincoln Co.; the mouth is in Tillamook Co., YBSJ (#71): Yaquina Bay South Jetty, YAQUINA HEAD OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREA (#65): headland north of Newport (vehicle entrance fee without a recreation pass such as the Oregon Pacific Coast Passport or America the Beautiful Passes honored by federal agencies).
The very exceptional showing of SNOW GEESE that started last month lingered into Nov., with grounded singletons at McNary Lane Pond on 11/4 (CP; D&LF; HH & PO) and along north Yaquina Bay Road on 11/2 (JLa & CP) & 11/12 (JCU).
BRANT numbers increased inside Yaquina Bay with 94 at Idaho Flats on 11/10 (WH). WH noted that there was only 1 juvenile, so this "looks like near-complete nesting failure for wherever this flock breeds. Quite a few birds were banded." During PP's Boiler Bay seawatches, he saw few Brant passing until 11/20, when he counted a total of 2,070 during 2 seawatches. On 11/21, PP tallied another 1,600 Brant. Most, if not all, of these Brant continued south past Yaquina Bay as only 269 Brant were at Yaquina Bay embayments on 11/24 (RB).
550-1,150 ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE passed during PP's 11/2 & 5 Boiler Bay seawatches. On 11/23, RL was surprised to find 33 Aleutians grazing on the short grass on the slope of an old landfill near the Waldport dump.
A TUNDRA SWAN flew over the HMSC on 11/4 (HH & PO; DH; WH), and a rare EMPEROR GOOSE flew south about 200 yards off Boiler Bay on 11/5 (PP). This is only our 4th Emperor record since 1992, and the first live one since Dec. 2001 (FN).
A BARROW'S GOLDENEYE favored the YBSJ-Yaquina Bay Bridge area during 11/11-23 (NS; RR; JR; DH), and a LONG-TAILED DUCK persisted near the HMSC during 11/4-8 (12 observers). Lone Long-taileds were also at Boiler Bay on 11/5 (PP) and the YBSJ on 11/11& 23 (NS; JR).
We had 16 reports of HARLEQUIN DUCKS with a peak count of 8 at the YBSJ during the 11/17 YBNFT (WH).
Southerly scoter migration (mostly Surfs but also many White-wings) continued through at least 11/21 (PP; WH), with a peak count of 25,000+ passing Boiler Bay during PP's 11/5 seawatch.
A possible COMMON EIDER passed about 200 yards off Boiler Bay on 11/12 (PP).
[Image Not Included: Snow Goose found by Pam Otley & Hendrik Herlyn at McNary Lane pond on Nov. 4. An Aleutian Cackling Goose (large white neck ring) is in the left foreground, another small Cackling Goose is in the right foreground and a much larger Western Canada Goose is in the background. Photo by Hendrik Herlyn cropped from http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S11963751]
Loon migration continued from Oct. through Nov. (PP; WH). It was usually dominated by PACIFIC LOONS with lesser numbers of RED-THROATED LOONS and even fewer COMMONS LOONS. The peak count was during PP's 11/21 Boiler Bay seawatch, with 80,000+ Pacifics, 3,000+ Red-throateds, and 1,000+ Commons.
Our only CLARK'S GREBE was in Alsea Bay north of Eckman Lake on 11/23 (AC, TM, HH).
A rare from-shore BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS was about 1.5 mile off Boiler Bay on 11/21 (PP).
At Boiler Bay, PP spotted 1-2 MANX SHEARWATERS on 11/2& 5, a possible BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER on 11/15, and our latest BULLER'S SHEARWATER and PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER on 11/21.
8 NORTHERN FULMARS were found dead in Oct. along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO), which is a fairly typical number for Oct.; 110 were found in Oct. 2003. Boiler Bay seawatches in Nov. had 5 or fewer fulmars except for 11/1 (80), 11/20 (50+), and 11/21 (15,000+) (PP). The higher counts were associated with wind storms with maximum gusts of less than 50 mph as measured at the YBSJ. PP commented about his long 11/21 seawatch during 7:00 AM-3:30 PM: "visible movement during entire duration, mostly 20-40/min increasing to 100/min around squalls, 98% dark-end." White-phase fulmars have been rare so far this season.
Also during PP's 11/21 Boiler Bay seawatch, there were 2 rare MOTTLED PETRELS and 350 LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS.
Migrating DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS can be easily mistaken as geese in Fall, based on their similar appearance and birders' expectation of seeing geese (not cormorants) migrate. This fall, many flocks were noted with high counts of 500-700 during PP's Boiler Bay seawatches on 11/2 &5, 1,000+ over Lincoln City on 11/6 (PP), and 500-600 flying south in a loose flock close to shore off Yaquina Bay on 11/15 (RR). Our last report that clearly indicated their migration was 8 at southwest Newport on 11/16 (RB).
As usual, BROWN PELICANS continued throughout Nov., with a peak count of 2,200 at Boiler Bay on 11/5 (PP). Some typically linger to mid-December and sometimes even later.
A GREAT EGRET at Yachats Community Park Wetlands on 11/4 is a good find for there (fide BB), and PD spotted 4 at Sally's Bend the same day, which is late for lower Yaquina Bay. There were also another additional 5 reports, and a few often overwinter.
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).
Lincoln Co. now has 3 Raptor Routes, with 2 done this Nov. 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. The Inland or Yaquina River-Siletz Raptor Route is about 65 miles long; it was done in on 11/2 by JLa & CP. The North Lincoln Raptor Run is around the Salmon River Estuary and is under 10 miles long; it was done on 11/1 by DV and on 11/15 by DV & LF.
-----------------------------------------
North Lincoln |Inland Route
11/ 11/ |11/
Raptor 1 15 | 2
------------------------------
Osprey 0 1 | 0
Wh-t. Kite 0 0 | 2
B. Eagle ad. 0 1 | 9
" subadults 1 0 | 0
N. Harrier 2 0 | 1
Sharp. Hawk 0 0 | 0
Coop. Hawk 0 0 | 0
unk. accipit. 0 1 | 0
R-shld. Hawk 2 0 | 0
R-legg. Hawk 2 1 | 0
R-tail. Hawk 5 6 | 10
Am. Kestrel 0 0 | 0
Merlin 0 0 | 0
Peregrine F. 1 2 | 0
unk. raptor 0 0 | 1
RAPTOR SUM 13 12 | 23
The new American Ornithologist's Union phylogenetic order used by eBird places falcons after woodpeckers; however, continuing to include falcons with hawks and eagles here seems more helpful in discussing Raptor Route results.
On both Routes done this Nov., RED-TAILED HAWKS were the most numerous raptor, with BALD EAGLES a close second along the Inland Route.
Single OSPREY lingered at Eckman Lake on 11/5 (SaL), Lincoln City/Salmon River on 11/15 (DV), and at the HMSC during 4 days until at least 11/20 (DG; RL; WH; TS).
On 11/9 in Newport, MH was intrigued by 2 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS near her feeders. All birds except STELLER'S JAYS vanished, and it seemed that the jays at times were taunting the hawks by ignoring them and going about their business with the hawks nearby. At other times, there were phenomenal acrobatics flights between the jays and hawks. Since Sharpies are about the size of Steller's Jays, they are about equally matched.
Besides during the North Lincoln Raptor Route, only single RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS were noted at the HMSC during 11/4-10 (m.ob.), Salmon River on 11/4 (D&LF), Beaver Creek on 11/15 & 17 (DH; CG), and South Beach State Park on 11/21 (TS).
It has also been an exceptional fall for ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS with the 1-2 found around the Salmon River in late Oct. continuing during both days of the North Lincoln Raptor Route as well as on 11/2, 3, 4, & 7 (JLa & CP; D&LF; KC; BW; ME). One that was also found at Beaver Creek in late Oct. also appears to have lingered until at least 11/11 (BF).
DH found our only AMERICAN KESTRELS with singletons at Beaver Creek on 11/14 and Yaquina Head on 11/15 & 25.
A MERLIN was at South Beach on 11/1 (DH), HMSC on 11/3 & 8 (JH; RL), and southwest Newport on 11/24 (RB).
There were 16 reports of 1-2 PEREGRINE FALCONS along the coast.
[Image Not Included: "One-footed" adult (red-eyed) Sharp-shinned Hawk perched near the USFWS building at the HMSC on a chilly and rainy Nov. 1. A bird can stand on one leg and tuck the other up into its plumage to reduce heat loss, like putting your hand in your pocket on a cold day. Photo by Roy Lowe.]
PP saw our only BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS (4) passing Boiler Bay on 11/22.
The only report of more than 10 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS was of 31 at Depoe Bay at about 11:47 AM on 11/4 (HH & PO in eBird). Large winter concentrations here have often been found during very high tides of +9 ft, but also sometimes at mid-tides when oystercatcher feeding areas would be covered. The Nov. 4 report fits into the latter category, since tide predictions for the HMSC indicate that this observation was between high and low tide, and tide measurement at the HMSC at 11:48 AM was +5.7 ft (http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/data_menu.shtml?stn=9435380%20South%20Beach,%20Yaquina%20River,%20OR&type=Tide+Data).
2 rare-for-this-season RUDDY TURNSTONES were reported at Depoe Bay on 11/2 (JSS).
A southerly flight of CALIFORNIA GULLS and HEERMANN'S GULLS past Boiler Bay was noted throughout the month (PP; WH) with a peak count of 6,000 Californias on 11/21 and of 2,000 Heermann's on 11/2 (PP). Heermann's were last reported on 11/24 at the YBSJ (AC, TM, HH).
There was some balmy weather in early Nov., and on 11/5 at about 2 PM, there were 100+ gulls circling in the air and hawking insects in the HMSC to south Yaquina Bay Bridge area (RB). The HMSC weather was then 65 F with only a 2 mph wind from the east. Evidently balmy enough for some insects to be flying up in swarms.
1-3 POMARINE JAEGERS were at Boiler Bay during 11/2-7 and 243 were there on 11/21 following and during windy weather (PP). 1-2 PARASTIC JAEGERS were also at Boiler Bay on 11/20 & 21 (PP). Also associated with the weather were 3 SOUTH POLAR SKUA that were all singles about 1/2-1 mile off Boiler Bay on 11/21 (PP).
50 COMMON MURRES were found dead in Oct. along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). This is much higher than usual but less than the 122 last October. Live murres were viewed throughout Nov., with peak counts during PP's Boiler Bay seawatches of 8,000+ on 11/5 & 21.
We had 18 reports of ANCIENT MURRELETS at Boiler Bay (m.ob.) with peak counts of 375 and 900 during seawatches on 11/2 & 21, respectively (PP). MARBLED MURRELETS were less frequent and usually less numerous (m.ob.).
A rare PARAKEET AUKLET was about 150 yards off Boiler Bay on 11/21 (PP), and our only TUFTED PUFFIN was also at Boiler Bay on 11/2 (PP).
On 11/14, AK found the only owl reported this month in Lincoln Co.! She was paddling Alsea Bay and saw a SHORT-EARED OWL being mobbed by crows, a RED-TAILED HAWK, a NORTHERN HARRIER, and a GREAT BLUE HERON! AK's Short-eared is only our 4th onshore record since 1995.
1 BLACK PHOEBE was at the Ona Beach State Park foot bridge over Beaver Creek to the beach on 11/7 (SH) and perhaps the same one was seen at the boat ramp area east of the HWY 101 bridge at Ona Beach State Park on 11/11 (CP).
About a month after a single TROPICAL KINGBIRD was found at the HMSC and Fishing Rock State Park, JH discovered 2 at the HMSC on 11/3. Subsequently, many observers searched the HMSC/Oregon Coast Aquarium area to the Yaquina Bay Bridge, and 1-2 Tropical Kingbirds were noted during 11/4-15 (16 observers), 3 were seen on 11/5 (SN) & 11/7 (T&AM, JC; ME), and the latest report as of 11/25 was of a lone bird on 11/24 (JR). The total of 23 observers reporting at least one Tropical Kingbird in that area is a lot, but not the record (see below)! In addition, a Tropical Kingbird was in Lincoln City near 53rd Street & HWY 101 on 11/6 (ME) and at the Port of Alsea Parking lot in Waldport on 11/15 (LG). It seems likely that there were at least 4 and perhaps 5 in Lincoln County, though the Port of Alsea bird had time to have moved from the HMSC. Other Tropicals may have been present but not found.
Since 1999, at least 1 Tropical Kingbird has been reported each Fall, except in 2003 and 2008 (FN). There were as many as 2 in 2000 and 2011, and as many as 3 at a time near the LNG in early November 2009, which led to great interest and at least 33 observers being able to see at least 1 (FN)! So Tropical Kingbirds, which used to be rare here, are becoming regular in Fall, but 2-3 at a time is still a treat! Further, this year (2012) a lone Tropical was also reported during one day in Jan. (a first for the Yaquina Bay Christmas Bird Count), Feb., and early March --these are our only reports of them outside of Sept.-Dec. (SemiL, FN). Will a Tropical linger into December and beyond again this year?
S &BLo had our only WESTERN SCRUB-JAY near the Newport Post Office on 11/11.
Departures include CEDAR WAXWING (12) at north Beaver Creek on 11/5 (DH) and AMERICAN PIPIT (1) at the YBSJ on 11/22 (JR).
A PALM WARBLER was at the south end of the HMSC on 11/4 (P&JLi) and along the HMSC Nature Trail on 11/24 (EH).
On 10/31, LO had an almost all white DARK-EYED JUNCO with dark eyes and another with a white cap at his north Beaver Creek home. There is disagreement about what to call birds with only some abnormal white feathering, and terms have included leucistic, pied, or piebald (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/Albinism_Leucism.htm or http://birding.about.com/od/identifyingbirds/a/leucism.htm).
A maximum of 8 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were at the HMSC (7 observers), 1-6 were at the YBSJ (YBNFT [WH]; DH; HH), and 1 was also near the 804 trail in Yachats on 11/14 (SaL).
[Image Not Included: "White-capped" or pied Dark-eyed Junco at north Beaver Creek on 10/31. Photo by Laimons Osis.]
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Jim Carlson, Birding Oregon (http://birdingoregon.info/), http://BirdNotes.net, Ken Chamberlain, Alan Contreras, Pat Dickey, http://eBird.org (location and observer not accessible in "View and Explore Data" for "All Observations" but available through "Bar Charts"), Mark Elliott, Darrel & Laura Faxon, fide ("as reported by" someone other than the observer), Linda Fink, Brian Fowler, Charles Gates, Linda Gilbert, Dawn Grafe, Jeff Harding, Hendrik Herlyn, Wayne Hoffman, Mary Holbert, Deb Holland, Eric Horvath, Signe Hurd, Amy Kocourek, Janet Lamberson (JLa), Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LCBNO/), Peter and Judy List (P&JLi), Sally Lockyear (SaL), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Tom Meinzen, Tom & Allison Mickel, Susan Norris, Field Notes (FN; Lincoln County records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are searchable at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#recent), m.ob. (multiple observers), Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birding.aba.org/maillistdigest/OR01), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Pam Otley, Chuck Philo, Phil Pickering, John Riverso, Roger Robb, Jason St. Sauver (JSS), Trent Seager, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive@OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Noah Strycker, Judith Clark-Upton (JCU), Dawn Villaescusa, Brandon Wagner, Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (http://yaquina.info/ybn/) Field Trip (YBNFT) led by WH.
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, COQUILLE POINT (along #67): southeast corner of Sally's Bend at about mile 3.5 along north Yaquina Bay Road, ECKMAN LAKE (#84): lake 2 mi east of Waldport along HWY 34, 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, SALMON RIVER ESTUARY (#44 and 45): estuary at north end of Lincoln Co.; the mouth is in Tillamook Co., SPANISH HEAD: pullout north of Inn at Spanish Head at 4009 SW Highway 101 in Lincoln City, YBSJ (#71): Yaquina Bay South Jetty.
A few BRANT migrated south past Boiler Bay on 12/2 & 17 (PP), and 1 Brant was on land with gulls near YBSJ gull puddle in mid-Dec. (WH; PP). At Yaquina Bay, the Brant that overwinter are east of the Yaquina Bay Bridge at embayment areas, where censuses revealed 269 on 11/24, 270 on 12/10, and 283 on 12/24 (RB).
Scattered flying CACKLING GOOSE flocks were noted with a flock of 14 (including 13 ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE) at Boiler Bay on 12/5 (PP), a flock of 50 Cacklers flying near the Newport Airport on 12/8 (WN & RC), and a flock of 75 Cacklers 5-30 miles offshore during the 12/8 Bird Guide Pelagic Trip (BGPT) out of Newport (GG).
MM detected and photographed 2 ROSS'S GEESE at the Salishan Spit Lagoon (Siletz Bay) on 12/19 (fide RL; fide PP). This is only our 3rd record; singletons were migrating with Aleutian Cackling Geese in April of 2000 and 2007 (FN).
DeH reported our only EURASIAN WIGEON (1) on 11/29 at Sally's Bend, and a single LONG-TAILED DUCK was at Yaquina Bay during the 12/8 BGPT (GG) and at Depoe Bay on 12/11 (MR).
A BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was at the Newport Bayfront on 11/30 (JR), Yaquina Bay on the 12/8 BGPT (GG), and the YBSJ on 12/9 (GG).
Our only MOUNTAIN QUAIL first appeared at BB's Yachats feeder on 12/13.
Loon migration continued from Oct. to at least 12/18 at Boiler Bay, but this month there was a change in that the migration appeared to be mostly RED-THROATED LOONS, with high counts of 3,000+ on 12/5 and 2,000+ on 12/17 (PP). Prior to Dec., the migration was dominated by PACIFIC LOONS.
The 12/8 BGPT found our only CLARK'S GREBE in Yaquina Bay, and, offshore, the BGPT recorded 5 BLACK-FOOTED and 1 LAYSAN ALBATROSSES (GG).
In Nov., 15 NORTHERN FULMARS were found dead along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). This number is not insignificant, but it is much less than the Nov. totals for this beach of 298 in 2003 and 238 in 2010. From shore, live fulmar numbers increased after a storm on 12/17 with 500+ during a 3.75 hour Boiler Bay seawatch; only 4 were light-phase (PP). During a 5-minute afternoon watch on 12/17 at Spanish Head, PP also saw 6 fulmars that were all light-phase.
PP found a BULLER'S SHEARWATER at Boiler Bay on 12/5 that may have been his first Dec. record. The 12/8 BGPT also had a late one that seemed to have an injured wing (GG).
A probable BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER passed during a 12/2 seawatch at Spanish Head (PP).
During the 12/8 BGPT, GG (the BGPT owner) wrote that he "got a 'replace battery' message on my camera. So I went down in the hold where my gear was stored. Then I heard the cry of petrel!" A rare MOTTLED PETREL (Pterodroma inexpecta)! GG continues: "I got one brief view of the dark belly and under wings as I cleared the cabin. This is the first Pterodroma seen on any of The Bird Guide pelagic trips--this our 151st trip." Birds sometimes show up at inopportune times!
On 11/9, BLo reported seeing a possible, rare MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD flying over the Presbyterian church in northeast Newport.
A BROWN PELICAN was found dead in Nov. along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). 2-15 live ones were noted during 10 days in Dec. through 12/18 (m.ob.), and they were last reported at Yaquina Bay on 12/19 (PB; JR).
1-3 GREAT EGRETS were occasionally noted at Beaver Creek on 12/5 & 9 (DeH), Eckman Lake on 12/6 (NS), Siletz Bay on 12/10 (DV), D River Open Space (Lincoln City) on 12/13 (DV), and Olalla Slough (east Toledo) on 12/24 (PD).
An uncommon BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was in lower Yaquina Bay on 11/28 (DiH) & 11/30 (DeH).
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).
Lincoln Co. now has 3 Raptor Routes. The Coastal Route is about 60-62 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 done on 12/8 in 330 minutes by WN & RC. The Inland or Yaquina River-Siletz Raptor Route is about 65-70 miles long; it was done on 11/2 by JLa & CP and on 12/5 in 106 minutes by CP & JL. The North Lincoln Raptor Run is around the Salmon River Estuary and was under 10 miles long when it was done on 11/1 by DV and 11/15 by DV & LF; it was 17.3 miles long with the addition of East Devil's Lake Road when it was done on 12/6 in 175 minutes (DV).
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No. Lincoln|Inland_|Coastal
11/ 11/ 12/|11/ 12/|12/
Raptor 1 15 6| 2 5| 8
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Osprey 0 1 0| 0 0| 0
Wh-t. Kite 0 0 1| 2 1| 0
B. Eagle ad. 0 1 2| 9 2| 14
" subadults 1 0 0| 0 0| 0
N. Harrier 2 0 2| 1 1| 2
Sharp. Hawk 0 0 2| 1 0| 2
Coop. Hawk 0 0 0| 0 0| 1
unk. accipit. 0 1 0| 0 0| 0
R-shld. Hawk 2 0 2| 0 0| 1
R-legg. Hawk 2 1 0| 0 0| 0
R-tail. Hawk 5 6 9| 10 26| 5
Am. Kestrel 0 0 0| 0 2| 1
Merlin 0 0 0| 0 0| 0
Peregrine F. 1 2 2| 0 0| 1
unk. falcon 0 0 0| 0 1| 0
RAPTOR SUM 13 12 20| 23 33| 27
The new American Ornithologist's Union phylogenetic order used by eBird places falcons after woodpeckers; however, continuing to include falcons with hawks and eagles here seems more helpful in discussing Raptor Route results.
[Image Not Included: Adult Bald Eagle flying under a First Quarter moon on 12/20, a day before Winter Solstice, at Rocky Creek State Wayside about 3 miles south of Depoe Bay. Photo by Roy Lowe from http://www.flickr.com/photos/24707703@N06/8293512404/]
Comparing the Raptor Routes for Dec., the most numerous raptor for the No. Lincoln and Inland Routes was Red-tailed Hawk and for the Coastal Route was Bald Eagle. Red-taileds were the second-most numerous species for the Coastal Route. None of the Routes found any subadult eagles in Dec. White-tailed Kites were only discovered for the No. Lincoln and Inland Routes.
Although no OSPREY were noted during the Raptor Routes in Dec., a singleton was at Eckman Lake on 12/6 (NS) and D River Open Space (Lincoln City) on 12/13 (DV).
There were many reports of BALD EAGLES.
The Port of Newport applied for permits to install 2 pilings for Bald Eagles to perch on in east Sally's Bend in 2007 (Port's Sept. 2009 newsletter, p.3; http://www.portofnewport.com/pdfs/September%2009%20Newsletter.pdf), and the 2 pilings were installed in early 2008 (RB's heron surveys). There is a photo and report in 2009 of one adult eagle perched on the Coquille Point Piling (Port's Sept. 2009 newsletter), but eagle use of the pilings has been rare. Many observers regularly there did not report any perched on these pilings until this November (CP; JM [fide BO]). A pair of adults on the Coquille Point Piling on 12/24 caused a car to stop in the traffic lane in the blind corner with the passenger and driver excitedly pointing them out to RB, who was standing along the roadside. Many people become very enthused when they see eagles in the wild, and this enthusiasm is awesome to see for those of us who have become used to Bald Eagles as they have become more common.
We had 6 reports of RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS other than on Raptor Routes (m.ob.).
Besides on the Raptor Routes, AMERICAN KESTRELS were also noted at the Salmon River at HWY 101 on 12/3 (ME), Beaver Creek on 12/5 (DeH), and Eckman Lake on 12/6 (NS).
Our only MERLINS were singletons in southwest Newport on 12/13&22 (RB).
Our only plover was an unseasonal SEMIPALMATED PLOVER on 12/19 at the YBSJ (JR).
We had 2 reports of more than 4 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS: 30 at Depoe Bay on 12/1 (DeH) and 9 on the rocks just south of the mouth of the Yachats River waiting out rough seas, the storm, and high tide on 12/15 (SaL).
A ROCK SANDPIPER graced Depoe Bay on 11/26 (PT & SM), 11/28 (DiH), and 12/2 (DeH).
RED PHALAROPES were often noted along the coast in early Dec. (m.ob.), with last reports on 12/17-18, including some blown onshore dead after a storm (fide BB; PP).
The 12/8 BGPT reported the latest HEERMANN'S GULLS at Yaquina Bay (GG), and PP had our latest FRANKLIN'S GULL at Boiler Bay on 12/18.
At Boiler Bay, PP detected a PARASITIC JAEGER on 12/2 and a POMARINE JAEGER on 12/5 & 1. 2 Pomarines were also discerned during the 12/8 BGPT (GG).
PIGEON GUILLEMOTS used to be rare in winter, but in recent years a few are regularly found. PP saw 1-11 during his 6 Boiler Bay seawatches during 12/1-18, and the 12/8 BGPT also had one in Yaquina Bay (GG).
PP saw 2-35 MARBLED MURRELETS and 1-500+ ANCIENT MURRELETS during his 6 Boiler Bay seawatches during 12/1-18; some Ancients were on the water, others flying (e.g., on 12/16, 60 were sitting and 25 flew south). The 12/8 BGPT also saw 2 Marbleds (GG).
2 rare PARAKEET AUKLETS were appreciated during the 12/8 BGPT (GG), and PP saw our only TUFTED PUFFIN flying south past Boiler Bay on 12/2.
PP also had a brief look at 3 possible, very rare CRESTED AUKLETS during his 12/17 Boiler Bay seawatch. The Oregon Bird Records Committee has not accepted any records for this species in Oregon through 2010 (http://www.oregonbirds.org/Acceptedthrough2010.pdf).
We only had one report of MOURNING DOVES, but what a report it was! CP tallied 51 at Mossy Loop in Toledo on 12/2, where they are fed. That is a very high number, and may be the most ever reported here.
BARN OWLS are uncommonly noted, but ME found singletons at Three Rocks Road near the Salmon River on 12/4 and another the next day at Chinook Winds Golf Course (Devils Lake) in Lincoln City.
On 12/20, JR found and photographed a BURROWING OWL on an old driftwood log near the coast. One was reported last year in late Sept. at an urban Newport location.
On 12/18 around 6 PM at DG's & RP's Toledo backyard, DG went "to close the door to my chicken coop. I noticed that something was sitting on my fence. I walked really close to it thinking it was a cat and it would jump down and run. Imagine my surprise when I realized it was a BARRED OWL!" It was the only one reported this month.
[Image Not Included: Barred Owl in Dawn Grafe's and Ram Papish's Toledo backyard on Dec. 18. Photo by Ram.]
On 12/7, JL had the first-ever ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD at her Hudson Loop home between Toledo and Siletz. They may be continuing to expand their distribution after being first reported in Lincoln Co. in 1974 (SemiL).
JL also had our only RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER at Hudson Loop on 12/1, 13 & 21.
On 12/24, CP found a BLACK PHOEBE in bushes at Toledo RR Tracks/Industrial Way (at Toledo stoplight on Business HWY 20 and A Street, turn south onto A Street, take the first right onto Industrial Park Way between the tire shop and ball field, go about 0.1 mile west, park in the cul-de-sac, and walk slightly northwest toward the riparian area bordering a large gravel lot and near railroad tracks [DF]). This area can be productive and had a Yellow-breasted Chat this summer.
Black Phoebes were first recorded in Lincoln Co in 1976 with only 2 records during 1976-1992 (SemiL). In recent years, they have become more common. This year, we have had 5 reports (including CP's report) and also a report of a possible nest under the South Beaver Creek Road bridge over Beaver Creek.
A TROPICAL KINGBIRD lingered at the HMSC on 11/28 (DiH) and 12/8 (EH; KC). EH wrote that "It was foraging on the mudflat, sitting on the mud. At times on the big stump out in the mud that the Bald Eagles use as a butcher block. The TK looked pretty thin, starving." Tropical Kingbird status is also changing here. In 2011, DF found a late TROPICAL KINGBIRD in Lincoln City on 12/7; prior to 1993, our latest record was on 11/15 (SemiL). This year, we also had single sightings each month during Jan.-March (FN), including the first one on the Yaquina Bay Christmas Bird Count. However, as EH's note indicates, they may have a hard time finding food in winter here.
CP located our only WESTERN SCRUB-JAY in Newport at NE 6th Street between NE Eads Street and HWY 101 on 12/3.
DF espied a bright male WILSON'S WARBLER at Thornton Creek between Toledo and Eddyville on 12/3; they are rare in winter.
PR discovered a SLATE-COLORED DARK-EYED JUNCO at his Newport home on 12/14. It is our first report of the year for this subspecies that is uncommon to rare in winter here.
5 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were at the YBSJ on 12/1&19 (JR), and 2-9 were at the HMSC during 12/1-20 (JL; EH, GG; DG).
During their 12/8 Coastal Raptor Route, WN & RC noted large flocks of PINE SISKINS (100-200 per flock) at several locations. Other observers also noted about a hundred or less, so they continue to be abundant.
An unseasonal LESSER GOLDFINCH visited DV's Lincoln City feeder on 12/16.
[Image Not Included: Male Townsend's Warbler in Toledo on Dec. 26. Photo by Ram Papish.]
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Betty Bahn, Peter Ballinger, Range Bayer, Bird Guide Pelagic Trip out of Newport (BGPT; info about pelagic trips at http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/), Birding Oregon (http://birdingoregon.info/), BirdNotes.net, Ken Chamberlain, Rebecca Cheek, Pat Dickey, eBird.org (location and observer not accessible in "View and Explore Data" for "All Observations" but available through "Bar Charts"), Mark Elliott, Darrel Faxon (see some of DF's bird records and his articles at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#thornton_creek), fide ("as reported by" someone other than the observer), Linda Fink, Greg Gillson, Dawn Grafe, Wayne Hoffman, Deb Holland (DeH), Diane Horgan (DiH), Eric Horvath, Janet Lamberson, Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LCBNO/), Sally Lockyear (SaL), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, John MacKown, Michael Mefford, Sandra Morey, 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), Bob Olson, Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birdnews.aba.org/maillist/OR01), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Ram Papish, Chuck Philo, Phil Pickering, John Riverso, Michael Roper, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive@OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Nancy Stotz, Patti Truhn, Dawn Villaescusa.
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