Menu of June-Dec. 2001 (sections 01.44-01.94) Bird Field Notes
by Kathy Merrifield from the Sandpiper (a publication
of Yaquina Birders & Naturalists, Lincoln County, Oregon)
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Section Month of
No. Sandpiper, Volume 22
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01.44 June-August 2001
01.54 September 2001
01.62 October 2001
01.74 November 2001
01.85 December 2001
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01.44 BIRD FIELD NOTES from the June-August 2001 Sandpiper 22(6)
Abbreviations and some site locations: Bayshore Beach=ocean beach
along north Alsea Bay Spit, Bayview Pasture=field east of junction of
Beaver Creek Road and North Alsea Bay Road, Beaver Creek=creek flowing
through Ona Beach SP, Beaver Creek Marsh=marsh just east of Hwy 101
managed by Wetlands Conservancy, Coquille Point=point at SE Corner of
Sally's Bend, Criteser's Moorage=marina at about mile 10.2 along north
Yaquina Bay Road, Driftwood Beach SP=park about halfway between Seal
Rocks and Waldport, Eckman Lake=lake just east of Waldport along Hwy 34,
Eckman Slough=slough between Alsea Bay and Eckman Lake, HMSC =Hatfield
Marine Science Center, HY=hatch-year (bird that hatched in 2001), Idaho
Flats=large embayment just east of the HMSC, LCSP=Lincoln City Sewage
Ponds, Newport Heights=1 mile east of downtown Newport, Nute
Slough=freshwater slough at about mile 9.3 along north Yaquina Bay Road,
Ona Beach=state park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along Hwy
101, Rocky Point/Lost Prairie Area: 12 miles due west of Lincoln City,
2000-3000 ft., Sallys Bend=large embayment east of the LNG tank at
Yaquina Bay, SP=State Park, Thiel Creek=creek about 3.5 mi south of
Yaquina Bay bridge, Tidewater=about 8 mi east of Waldport,
Wandemere=about 0.5 mi north of Ona Beach along Hwy 101, YBSJ=Yaquina Bay
South Jetty.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.45 EDITOR'S NOTE
Space limitations in this edition covering 3 months of observations
preclude inclusion of many observations. It was heart-rending to delete
so many. Please continue to submit all those great observations; they
will be included in the Birds of Lincoln County project.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.46 LOONS - IBIS
PP averaged 1.6 hour of seawatching from Boiler Bay over 21 days;
RED-THROATED LOONS dwindled from over 200 on 5/23 to 3 on several August
days, PACIFIC LOONS ranged from 6000 on 5/25 to 1 on several July days,
and COMMON LOONS peaked at over 80 on 6/4 and declined to 1-3 during July
and August. From 2 to 4 breeding-plumaged RED-THROATED LOONS swam off
Seal Rock on 8/5 and 8/19 (KM). KM's averaged 35 min of flight direction
sampling spread over 3 hours on 6 days from Yachats; northward loon
flight decreased from 60/hr on 5/28 to 0 on 7/22.
2 breeding-plumaged PIED-BILLED GREBES arrived at Eckman Lake as of
7/22 (KM). Low numbers of WESTERN GREBES were reported until 50 flocked
off Seal Rock on 8/19 (KM).
B&SL and LO found 1 NORTHERN FULMAR and 1 FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL
during their May Beached Bird Walks along 4.6 miles of beach near Thiel
Creek. The same team found 2 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES, 1 FULMAR, and
7 SOOTY SHEARWATERS during June, and 33 birds in July including 10 murre
chicks, 1 FULMAR, 2 PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, 1 RHINOCEROS AUKLET, the first
AMERICAN RAVEN of the study, and a headless chicken: BL suspects owl
predation - or maybe someone had a vegetarian barbecue.
The Bird Guide led several pelagic trips out of Newport; their
results for tubenoses follow. BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS: 13, 8/12;
NORTHERN FULMAR: 17, 7/7; 4, 8/11; SOOTY SHEARWATER: 160, 7/7; 1070,
8/11; 920, 8/12; PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER: 4, 7/7; 25, 8/11; 92, 8/12;
BULLER'S SHEARWATER: 6, 8/11; 1, 8/12; FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL: 253,
8/11; 5, 8/12.
SOOTY SHEARWATERS peaked at over 4000 off Boiler Bay on 6/4 and
again on 8/15, when 26 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS joined them; 1 to 2
MANX SHEARWATERS passed on 6/22 and 7/9 as did a LEACH'S STORM-PETREL on
5/27 (PP).
During this cold-water summer, BROWN PELICANS were observed in very
low numbers until 7/29, when PP saw 24 off Boiler Bay; 30 flew north off
Wandemere on 8/2 (RC). An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN over Yaquina Bay on
6/22 was a rare find (JL). At Yaquina Head, most BRANDT'S CORMORANTS sat
on eggs but a few chicks had hatched on 6/4 (BLM)
AS spotted a GREEN HERON along North Beaver Creek on 6/8. SaL first
noted Greens at Eckman Lake on 6/27; on 7/22, an adult there flew from
marshes to trees, and on 8/19, an adult and a HY stalked the Eckman Lake
marshes (KM). 3 GREAT EGRETS visited Idaho Flats on 7/22 (KM), 1 stood in
Eckman Lake on 8/16 (P&BW), and at least 15 were in a South Beach marsh on
8/19 (U&EO). 16 WHITE-FACED IBIS landed in Idaho Flats on
5/30 (RL).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.47 WATERFOWL
Flocks of up to 42 western CANADA GEESE flew north over Boiler Bay,
D River, Newport, and Yachats from 5/16 through 6/7 (BB, RL, DPi, GS,
PP), but on 6/2, RB saw 8 fly south over Newport. 18 adults and HY were
at LCSP as of 6/27, and 220 flew south off Boiler Bay on 8/15 (PP).
BRANT at Boiler Bay decreased from 20 on 5/22 to 8 on 5/25, and AC saw
1 at Cape Foulweather on 7/1.
A WOOD DUCK pair at Eckman Lake on 5/26 (JS) must have been
successful breeders: up to 6 HY joined up to 3 females there from 7/8
through 8/19 (KM). A GREEN-WINGED TEAL visited Boiler Bay on 8/15 (PP).
MALLARDS flew off Boiler Bay on 6/8 (TL) and 7/25 (PP), and 12 with HY
were in LCSP on 6/27 (AS). 11 female-plumaged GADWALLS flew north off
Boiler Bay on 7/6 (PP); a male in Eckman Lake from 7/8 through 8/19
apparently summered (KM). A male BLUE-WINGED TEAL joined
northward-flying scoters and auklets off Boiler Bay on 5/22 (PP), and on
6/8, 3 male blue-wingeds flew north together. Single GREATER SCAUPS were
off Boiler Bay on 5/25 and 65/27 (PP). An eclipse LESSER SCAUP foraged
in Eckman Lake on 7/22 (KM).
Scoters usually summer by the hundreds off the Lincoln County coast
but were noticeably absent during DFi's 6/20-25 pelagic surveys; the
largest flock was 160 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS. 2500, mostly SURF SCOTERS,
flocked off Big Creek, Lane County, on 6/26 (RL), and a flock of 300
surfs gathered off Seal Rock as of 7/8 (KM). SURF SCOTER numbers at
Boiler Bay decreased from over 600 on 5/22 less than 25 on most July days
before southward flight started on 7/29, and no more than 70 WHITE-WINGED
SCOTERS were present there on any day (PP). A lone BLACK SCOTER foraged
off Yaquina Head on 7/1 (KM), and another was off Boiler Bay on 7/13
(TL). Up to 6 Blacks joined 600-750 Surfs off Yaquina head on 8/5 and
8/22 (KM). Northward scoter flight of up to 21/hour off Yachats
continued through 6/24; southward flight began at 7/hr on 7/8 and reached
29/hour on 7/22, decreasing thereafter (KM). An immature HARLEQUIN DUCK
surfed off Seal Rock on 6/24 (KM).
8 COMMON MERGANSERS flew N off Boiler Bay on 5/22 (PP), and 10 males
and 2 in female plumage flocked in Alsea Bay on 5/28 (KM). Up to
7 HY HOODED MERGANSERS loafed in Eckman Lake from 7/22 through 8/19 (KM,
MC, PV).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.48 HAWKS - QUAIL
2 OSPREYS visited Yaquina Head on, 5/4 and 5/12 (BLM), and they were
present at Eckman Lake as of 5/26 (JS), where adults and a chick viewed
the lake from the usual utility pole on 6/27 through 8/22 (SaL, KM).
OSPREYS hovering and calling SE of Wandemere on 6/8 led RC to suspect a
nest there, 2 (1 with fish) dogged by gulls flew over Alsea Bay on 6/22
(SaL), and another was at the LCSP on 6/27 (AS). BLM spotted a female
NORTHERN HARRIER at Yaquina Head on 5/10. At Yaquina Head, BALD EAGLES
took murres on 5/2, 5/8, 5/19, 5/24 and made attempts on 5/27 and 5/31
(BLM, JWs, DPi).
A MERLIN haunted J&ST's Newport feeder as of 5/29. Single PEREGRINE
FALCONS flew over downtown Newport on 6/22 (DFi) and Seal Rock on 8/18
(PV, MC), where one was dramatically eluded by a SURFBIRD on 8/5 (KM).
AS observed 2 BLUE GROUSE above 2000 ft and 3 RUFFED GROUSE at lower
elevations in the Rocky Point/Lost Prairie area on 6/9. 2 WILD TURKEYS
crossed Highway 18 at Van Duzer Corridor on 5/24 (SaL); AS and another
turkey braved heavy rain on 6/3, and AS rounded out his gallinaceous
sightings with a RING-NECKED PHEASANT on 6/7, a CALIFORNIA QUAIL 6/4, and
a MOUNTAIN QUAIL on 6/7 in the Elk City/Harlan area.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.49 RAILS - SANDPIPERS
OFO Birding Weekenders called up about 5 VIRGINIA RAILS from Beaver
Creek Marsh on 7/8.
An AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER flew over Boiler Bay on 7/13 (TL) and 60
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS were in Siletz Bay on 8/15 (PP). 36 SEMIPALMATED
PLOVERS foraged on Bayshore Beach and 60 on Driftwood Beach on 8/5 (KM).
A color-banded SNOWY PLOVER was in Idaho Flats on 6/28 (WH).
2 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS fed on nemertean worms, isopods, and mussels
at Seal Rock on 6/24 (KM), where JG noted 2 on 6/23. AS saw from 1 to 3
BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS at Cape Foulweather from 6/30 to 7/1.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS appeared on 6/20 near Chitwood (DF), on 6/27 in
Eckman Lake (SaL), and 5 to 21 were in breeding plumage there on 7/8,
8/5, and 8/19 (KM); JG saw 2 at Seal Rock on 7/23, and several along the
lower Siletz River were joined by a KILLDEER and a SOLITARY SANDPIPER on
8/8 (TS). SPOTTED SANDPIPERS were at the South Beach Log Pond on 5/26
(JS) and LCSP on 8/15 (PP). A WILLET was at Wecoma Dock on 8/13 (EH).
One WANDERING TATTLER wandered to Yaquina Head on 5/19 (BLM) and 3 to
Seal Rock on 7/29 (DPe).
A LONG-BILLED CURLEW visited the Salmon River Estuary on 8/18 (JH).
15 WHIMBRELS flew over Boiler Bay on 5/22 and 3 on 7/9 (PP), 3 were at
Gov. Patterson SP on 5/27 (JS), 1 feasted on mole crabs at Seal Rock on
5/28 (KM), 87 blanketed Idaho Flats on 7/20 (JF) along with at least 50
on 7/23 (JG), 42 flew south over Bayshore Beach in 50 minutes on 7/22
(KM), and 5 flew S off Boiler Bay on 7/25 (PP). MARBLED GODWITS visited
the north side of Alsea Bay on 5/26 (JS), and 3 remained on 5/28 (KM).
PP noted an early BLACK TURNSTONE at Boiler Bay on 7/9, and larger
numbers at Seal Rock on 7/23 were jointed by 2 RUDDY TURNSTONES (JG).
Up to 230 breeding-plumaged SURFBIRDS arrived for the weekend of
7/22-23 at Seal Rock (JG, KM). 20 SANDERLINGS remained at Gov. Patterson
SP on 5/27, and by 8/5, 3 breeding-plumaged SANDERLINGS had returned to
Bayshore Beach and 45 to Driftwood Beach (KM). 1 WESTERN SANDPIPER
appeared at Idaho Flats on 7/23 (JG), and 120 flew south off Boiler Bay
on 7/17 (PP). 21 LEAST SANDPIPERS had arrived at Idaho Flats by 7/23
(JG), and 80 were at the LCSP on 8/15 (PP). PP found a SEMIPALMATED
SANDPIPER at LCSP on 8/15, and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER was at Ona Beach SP
on 8/18 (PV, MC). 2 Dowitcher sp. arrived at Idaho Flats by 7/20 (JF).
40 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were off Boiler Bay on 5/22, and 500 there on
8/15 either fed or flew south (PP). 6 to 15 RED PHALAROPES were off
Boiler Bay on 5/25-5/27 (PP).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.50 JAEGERS - TERNS
From 5/22 through 5/29, 1 to 6 PARASITIC JAEGERS flew past Boiler
Bay, joined by one POMARINE JAEGER on 8/20 (PP). GG saw 12 Parasitics,
3 Pomarines, and 2 SOUTH POLAR SKUAS on an 8/10 pelagic trip, and 5
Pomarines were off Newport on 8/11 (DaM/BGPT).
HEERMANN'S GULLS were sparse during this cold-water summer; the
first arrived off Boiler Bay on 6/8, and numbers peaked at over 200 on
7/25 and decreased to about 30 on 8/20 (PP). The largest land-based
Heermann's accumulation was 25 at the Yachats River Mouth on 7/25 (SaL),
and over 100 were in Yaquina Bay on 8/11, when another 50 were off
Yaquina Head (DaM/BGPT). Heermann's flight off Yachats began and was
highest on 7/8, when 12/hour flew north (KM). At least 600 mostly
non-breeding BONAPARTE'S GULLS flew off Boiler Bay on 5/22, where a
breeding-plumaged FRANKLIN'S GULL flew north on 5/23 followed by an
immature on 6/29 (PP). 6 to 8 BONAPARTE'S GULLS rested in Idaho Flats on
8/13 (EH) and 8/18 (PV, MC).
4 MEW GULLS arrived at Idaho Flats as of 8/13 (EH) and remained
there on 8/18 (PV, MC). Most CALIFORNIA GULLS off Boiler Bay flew north,
peaking at over 2000 on 5/25 and continuing through 8/20 (PP). Off
Yachats, Californias' northward flight peaked at 89/hour on 7/22,
followed by southward flight of 218/hour on 8/5 (KM). Also off Yachats,
WESTERN GULL northward flight peaked at 53/hr on 7/8, and
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL northward flight at 12/hr on 7/8 and 7/22 (KM). A
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE rested on a Yaquina Head bluff on 5/2 (CF), 2 were
off Boiler Bay on 5/25 (PP), and one joined 250 other gulls at Idaho
Flats on 7/20 (JF).
CASPIAN TERN numbers at Boiler Bay peaked on 7/3, when 13 flew N
(PP). Up to 9 were off Cape Foulweather from 6/30 - 7/2 (AS). An
ARCTIC TERN visited Yaquina Head on 6/9 (BLM). An adult COMMON TERN flew
north offshore between Cape Foulweather and Siletz spit on 8/5 (DFi), and
3 were off Newport and Lincoln City on 8/10 (GG).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.51 ALCIDS
COMMON MURRE numbers at Boiler Bay peaked on 5/22, when over 8000
flew north (PP). CF reported the earliest murre chick at Yaquina Head on
6/3, and JW saw 5 chicks fledge from the sea stacks there just before
sunset on 6/28. Northward murre flight off Yachats peaked at 250/hour on
6/24 and decreased to 0 by 8/19 during complete wing molt (KM). Boiler
Bay PIGEON GUILLEMOTS were most numerous on 5/23-25, when 60 flew by; HY
first appeared on 8/15 (PP). 150 were off Cape Foulweather on 6/30 and
7/1 (AS).
Also off Boiler Bay, 37 MARBLED MURRELETS flew north on 5/25, and 26
flew south on 7/29; 49 were present on 6/22 and lower numbers on most
other of PP's seawatch days. Up to 30 were off D River on 6/5 and 6/16
(PP), 22 off Seal Rock on 7/8 and 7/22 (KM), and 30 off Yachats on 7/29
(DPe); DaM/BGPT counted 25 off Yaquina Head on 8/11. MARBLED MURRELET
flight off Yachats peaked at 48/hour on 7/22; direction varied (KM). Off
Boiler Bay, 2 ANCIENT MURRELETS flew south on 5/27 and 1 to 2 flew north
on 7/5 and 7/9 (PP), and 5 were off Cape Foulweather on 6/30 (AS).
GG/BGPT saw a XANTUS' MURRELET off Newport and Lincoln City on 8/12.
RHINOCEROS AUKLET numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 5/25, when 330
flew north and on 8/15, when 130 flew south (PP). Most RHINOCEROS AUKLET
flight off Yachats was southward, peaking on 8/19 at 55/hour, but on 7/8,
22/hour flew north (KM). 5 to 30 were off Cape Foulweather on 6/29-7/4
(DPe, GL, AS, AC), 2 to 8 were off Newport and Lincoln City on 8/11-12
(DaM/BGPT, GG), 5 were offshore between Cape Foulweather and Siletz Spit
on 8/5 (DFi), and 2 adult/HY pairs swam off Seal Rock on 8/19 (KM).
1 to 3 CASSIN'S AUKLETS were off Boiler Bay on 5 of PP's seawatch dates
through 7/25, and 4 were off Newport on 8/11 (DaM/BGPT).
From 1 to 2 TUFTED PUFFINS were off Boiler Bay on 6 dates from 5/22
and 8/20, and 2 flew north off D River on 6/5 (PP); 1 was off Cape
Foulweather from 6/29 through 7/9 (DPe, AC, PS, TL, CP), 1 circled off
Yaquina Head on 6/13 (JWs), and DFi saw one offshore between Cape
Foulweather and Siletz spit on 8/5. At sea, DFi spotted a HORNED PUFFIN
off Otter Crest on 6/23, DPe saw one there from land on 6/29, and DFi,
EM, DHe, AE, AM, GL, AS, DFa, and RR each reported one off Cape
Foulweather and Otter Crest between 6/30 and 7/1. PP saw 1 off Boiler
Bay on 7/6 and 7/9.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.52 PIGEONS - SWALLOWS
2 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS were in South Waldport on 5/26 (JS), and 3
were east of Yachats on 5/29 (SaL); 6 to 12 were near Harlan on 6/3-7, 12
along North Beaver Creek on 6/8, and 8 along Elkhorn Creek Road on 6/29
(AS). A single MOURNING DOVE visited RC's Wandemere feeder on 7/3, one
appeared at Yaquina Head on 8/20 (TM), and a few were regular between
Siletz and Toledo throughout summer (JL). LO heard a hooted "Who cooks
for YOU?" in the Beaver Creek area on the evening of 7/13; after
evaluating tapes, he determined that this bard was not the suspected
Barred but instead a GREAT-HORNED OWL.
VAUX'S SWIFTS roosted in CP's chimney as of 7/24; 1 was at the LCSP
on 6/27 (AS). 2 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were in the Rocky Point/Lost Prairie
area on 6/9 (AS), and 1 flew and called over Wandemere on 6/22 and 7/7
(RC). A COMMON POORWILL called in dawn twilight from Boise Cascade land
7 miles due west of Boiler Bay on 5/25 (AW).
PP noted a COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD at D River on 5/29. BB's Yachats
yard hosted a BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD on 5/14 and J&LM's Coquille Point
yard an ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD for three weeks as of 7/14. DHa found a
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD nest in Toledo on of 6/1.
PILEATED WOODPECKERS frequented P&ML's Newport Heights alder grove
through 6/18; up to 4 were at west Lincoln County points along with up to
4 NORTHERN FLICKERS from 6/3-9 (AS). Flickers remained at Yaquina Head
through 6/14 (BLM). HAIRY WOODPECKERS occurred sparsely in west Lincoln
County from 6/7 -9, and 1 parked in the Cape Foulweather parking lot on
7/1 (AS). DOWNY WOODPECKERS pecked at the South Beach log pond on 5/26
(JS), Harlan (AS), and D&BM's Waldport Yard on July 11.
SS continues her insights into COMMON RAVEN behavior: chased by
AMERICAN CROWS on 6/6, their activity on subsequent days suggested a nest
near her Neskowin (Tillamook County) home, and on 6/17, she videotaped
them doing the cha-cha. From their Waldport yard, D&BM watched AMERICAN
CROWS attacked a BALD EAGLE on 5/18 and a COMMON RAVEN on 5/24. AS
spotted GRAY JAYS near Harlan on 6/7 and near Rocky Point/Lost Prairie on
6/9.
PURPLE MARTINS fledged from the Wecoma Dock nest boxes on 8/13 (EH).
A NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW pair was at a nest burrow at Governor
Patterson SP on 5/27, and two carried nest material to a burrow at Seal
Rock on 7/8 (KM). About 10 TREE SWALLOWS fed young near Rocky Point/Lost
Prairie on 6/9 (AS). VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS fledged from RC's Wandemere
nest boxes on 7/5 and 7/9.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.53 CHICKADEES - FINCHES
A MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE visited JWk's south Waldport feeder on 8/1.
BROWN CREEPERS crept to south Waldport on 5/28 (JS) and near Rocky
Point/Lost Prairie on 6/9 (AS). A late RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET remained at
Eckman Lake on 6/27 (SaL) and a late HERMIT THRUSH near Rocky Point/Lost
Prairie on 6/9 (AS). CEDAR WAXWINGS visited J&ST's Newport feeders as of
5/29; insect hawking from Eckman Lake utility wires was underway by 8/5
(KM) and cascara berry feasting in P&BW'S Tidewater yard by 8/17.
Upon hearing early morning mystery warblers through a south Waldport
bedroom window on 5/26, the urge to link song to species was so great
that pajama-clad JS grabbed only binoculars to stalk the wild HERMIT
WARBLER. Fully clothed PP saw a BLACKPOLL WARBLER along the D River on
5/29. 1 to 2 MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS were near Harlan on 6/7 and Rocky
Point/Lost Prairie on 6/9 (AS).
DHa found a WESTERN TANAGER nest near Toledo on 6/1. WESTERN
TANAGERS were spotted in several west Lincoln County locales and along
North Beaver Creek from 6/3-8 (AS), in P&ML's Newport Heights alder grove
on 6/18, and in Tidewater on 8/17 (DO).
HY WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS and SONG SPARROWS appeared in Wandemere as
of 7/9 (RC). HY DARK-EYED JUNCOS were in P&BW's Tidewater yard on 5/28
and left a second Wandemere nest on 7/9 (RC); 3 of 4 HY hatched on 6/25
in PR's Newport yard became prey, and the nest was abandoned.
A male BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK arrived in Wandemere on 5/10 and a
female on 5/14 (RC); JS spotted one along North Beaver Creek on 5/26, and
SaL found another east of Yachats on 5/29. A male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK
visited D River on 6/5 (PP).
A male LAZULI BUNTING appeared in J&LM's Coquille Point yard on 5/16
and 17, and another struck a YHONA window on 5/23, was stunned, and
recovered (MN).
CD discovered and AS resighted a female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD at
HMSC on 5/24. Single BULLOCK'S ORIOLES were on Cascade Head on 5/26
(PP), near Elk City on 6/3 (DF and PS), and at Eckman Lake on 6/22 and
7/3 (DR). The first juvenile BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD appeared by itself on
7/2 at Wandemere, foraging on the lawn for insects (RC). On 7/3 at
Beverly Beach, an exhausted male GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET fed a
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD juvenile: "Now THERE'S an unlikely host," writes GG.
As of 6/18, RED CROSSBILLS had raised a brood and left Newport
Heights (P&ML), 10 to 15 were at Rocky Point/Lost Prairie on 6/9 and
along Elkhorn Creek Road on 6/29 (AS), and a family visited RC's
Wandemere feeder on 6/20. Crossbills returned to J&ST's Newport feeders
as of 7/12 and to SaL's Yachats feeder from 8/2-16, where a male "really
does a job on the seed." AS spotted EVENING GROSBEAKS near Harlan and
Rocky Point on 6/7-9; 4 visited RC's Wandemere feeder on 6/8, and a large
influx descended upon P&BW's Tidewater feeder as of 8/17, a colorful end
to an active breeding season.
OBSERVERS: Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Bird Guide Pelagic Trip (BGPT),
Bureau of Land Management at YHONA (BLM), Rebecca Cheek, Alan Contreras,
Marcia Cutler, Carol DeLancey, Anne Esche, Darrel Faxon (DFa),
David Fix (DFi), Jeff Fleischer, Colin French, Joel Geier, Greg Gilson,
Jeff Harding, Dawn Harris (DHa), Dan Heyerly (DHe), Wayne Hoffman,
Eric Horvath, Janet Lamberson, Paul & Mary Land, Gerard Lillie,
Sally Lockyear (SaL), Bob & Shirley Loeffel, Tom Love, Roy Lowe,
John & Linda MacKown, David Mandell (DaM), Al McGie, Ed McVicker,
Kathy Merrifield, Dawson and Bobby Mohler (D&BM), Terry Morse of BLM,
Michael Noack of BLM, Dorothy Olson, Umur and Ebru Onal, Laimons Osis,
Diane Pettey (DPe), Chuck Philo, Phil Pickering, Dave Pitkin (DPi),
Paul Reed, Roger Robb, David Robinson, Alan Schmierer, Gerti Schramm,
Jamie Simmons, Tom Snetsinger, Paul Sullivan, Jim & Shirley Thielen,
Paula Vanderheul, Anne Walsleben, Jean Weakland (JWk), Jennifer Weiss of
BLM (JWs), Pat & Bunny Wright.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
01.54 BIRD FIELD NOTES from the September 2001 Sandpiper 22(7)
Comments in this column about abundance or seasonality refer to
LINCOLN COUNTY only.
Abbreviations and some Lincoln Co. site locations: Coquille
Point=SE Corner of Sally's Bend, Eckman Lake=lake just east of Waldport
along Hwy 34, HMSC =Hatfield Marine Science Center, HY=hatch-year (bird
that hatched in 2001), Idaho Flats=large embayment just east of the HMSC,
Sallys Bend=large embayment east of the LNG tank at Yaquina Bay, Thiel
Creek=creek about 3.5 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge, USFWS= US Fish and
Wildlife Service, YBSJ=Yaquina Bay South Jetty.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.55 EDITOR'S NOTE
Someone may have left a phone message for me on 9/11, but there was
a malfunction of either my phone machine or the telephone system, and the
message was not recorded. If anyone called in a report on that day that
was missed in the notes below, please let me know.
* * * * * * * *
01.56 LOONS - CORMORANTS
PP's Boiler Bay seawatches from 8/23 to 9/21 ranged from 0.75 to
2.00 hours and averaged 1.25 hours. RED-THROATED LOON numbers there
peaked on 8/30, when 45 flew S, 50 PACIFIC LOONS on 9/21 were the first
to fly south, although northward-flying immatures peaked at 80 on 9/13,
and COMMON LOON numbers peaked at 7 on 8/23. On 9/16, up to 4
breeding-plumaged RED-THROATED LOONS swam off Seal Rock and Yachats, and
30 PACIFIC LOONS flocked off Yaquina Head and 39 off Seal Rock; none were
in breeding plumage (KM). KM's flight direction sampling from Yachats
averaged 35 min over 2.5 hours on both 9/3 and 9/16; loon flight averaged
21/hour south on 9/3 and 10/hr south on 9/16 (KM).
2 PIED-BILLED GREBES' breeding plumage faded at Eckman Lake on 9/3,
and 7 winter adults joined 1 in juvenal plumage on 9/16 (KM). 2 HORNED
GREBES enjoyed the quiet minus-tide sunset in Sally's Bend on 9/19 (KM).
Breeding-plumaged RED-NECKED GREBES first appeared at Boiler Bay on 8/23
(PP). WESTERN GREBE rafts included 55 off Yaquina Head on 9/3, 325 off
Seal Rock on 9/16 (KM), and 60 off Boiler Bay on 9/17 (PP).
The Bird Guide had several pelagic trips out of Newport; their
results for tubenoses follow.
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS: 400, 8/25; 4, 9/6; 2, 9/8.
NORTHERN FULMAR: 1000, 8/25; 1, 9/8. SOOTY SHEARWATER: over 3000,
8/25; 1313, 9/6; 80, 9/8. PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER: over 6000; 120, 9/6;
49, 9/8. 23 BULLER'S SHEARWATER: 23, 8/25; 44, 9/6; 24, 9/8.
FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL: 118, 8/25.
SOOTY SHEARWATERS, present off Boiler Bay throughout the period,
peaked at over 10,000 on 9/21 (PP); 50 were as close as the kelp beds on
8/28 (TB). Also off Boiler Bay were at least 2 SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATERS
on 9/17, up to 14 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS from 9/13 - 9/21, and
1 BULLER'S SHEARWATER on 8/23 (PP). 1 FULMAR, 5 SOOTY SHEARWATERS, and
1 FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL were found dead along 4.6 miles of beach near
Thiel Creek in August (B&SLo, LO).
BROWN PELICAN numbers off Boiler Bay were under 22 each of PP's
seawatch days except 9/2, when 420 flew N. Northward BROWN PELICAN
flight off Yachats averaged 72/hr north on 9/3 and 24/hr on 9/16 (KM).
At least 500 BRANDT'S CORMORANTS flew north on 4 of PP's seawatch days,
and 870 formed the nucleus of a multispecific feeding and resting flock
off Seal Rock on 9/16 (KM). PELAGIC CORMORANTS and BRANDT'S CORMORANTS
continued to occupy nest sites at Yaquina Head on 9/16 (KM).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.57 WATERFOWL
At least 12 WOOD DUCKS, mostly HY, occupied Eckman Lake on 9/3 and
9/16; males neared breeding plumage on 9/16 (KM), and 2 male-female pairs
were there on 9/21 (SaL). 22 GREEN-WINGED TEAL flew south off Boiler Bay
on 8/23 (PP); 2 had arrived in Eckman Lake by 9/3 and 6 by 9/16 (KM).
Southward mallard flight off Yachats averaged 37/hour on 9/3 and 437/hour
on 9/16 the same day 104 were in Eckman Lake and 150 in Alsea Bay,
including many late eclipse males (KM). Off Boiler Bay, 56 NORTHERN
PINTAILS flew south on 8/23 and 120 on 9/2 (PP); BGPT saw 40 at sea on
9/6 and 70 on 9/8. 13 Pintails in Eckman Lake on 9/3 and 81 there and
150 in Alsea Bay on 9/16 included eclipse but no breeding-plumaged males
(KM). Up to 3 AMERICAN WIGEONS first appeared off Boiler Bay on 8/23
(PP). Of 8 wigeons in Eckman lake on 9/16, a male neared complete
breeding plumage (KM), and up to 60 had arrived by 9/21 (SaL).
12 GADWALLS flew south off Seal Rock on 9/16, and a breeding-plumaged
male persevered among the Mallards in Eckman Lake through 9/16 (KM).
2 NORTHERN SHOVELERS had arrived in Eckman Lake as of 9/21 (SaL).
A LESSER SCAUP was off Boiler Bay on 9/1(PP).
Also off Boiler Bay, up to 200 SURF SCOTERS were present throughout
the period, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS increased through 9/21, when 200 flew
north, and 19 BLACK SCOTERS appeared on 9/21 (PP). Off Yaquina Head,
fewer than 100 White-wingeds joined about 500 Surfs on 9/3, and 36 Blacks
in discreet groups joined 500 Surfs there on 9/16 (KM). Off Yachats, at
least 1 White-winged joined 810 Surfs on 9/3, and on 9/16, most of 225
White-wingeds swam west of 1275 Surfs (KM). Scoter flight off Yachats on
9/3 averaged 17/hour south and on 9/16 averaged 3/hr north (KM). One
female and one eclipse male HARLEQUIN DUCK swam together off Seal Rock on
9/3 (KM).
COMMON MERGANSERS are common in lower estuaries only in late summer
and fall; plumages include female, immature, and male eclipse, so all
look much like females. However, males can be distinguished by their
bright red bills. 52 rested on a lower Alsea Bay mudbar on 9/16; some,
including one very aggressive one, had the red bills of eclipse males
(KM). 23 swam synchronously in Idaho Flats along with 43 in Sally's Bend
on 9/19 (KM). 7 HY and 2 adult HOODED MERGANSERS of unknown sex were in
Eckman Lake on 9/3, and 7 HY, 1 adult female, and 2 breeding plumaged
males were there on 9/16 (KM).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.58 HAWKS - SHOREBIRDS
An OSPREY chick remained on its mid-Eckman Lake nest on 9/21 (SaL).
A NORTHERN HARRIER visited Yaquina Head from 8/8-8/11 (BLM). Single
RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS circled over the Newport bayfront on 9/5 (AJ, GG)
and on 9/6 (BGPT), and one called and flew over Eckman Lake on 9/6 (EH)
Single PEREGRINE FALCONS flew over Yaquina Head on 8/5 and 8/8 (BLM),
D River on 9/2 (PP), and Newport harbor on 9/6 (BGPT).
One breeding-plumaged BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER flew off Boiler Bay on
8/23, and 8 flew north there in a tight flock on 9/17 (PP).
22 to 26 GREATER YELLOWLEGS in Eckman Lake from 9/3 through 9/6 (EH,
KM) were joined by a LESSER YELLOWLEGS on 9/6 (EH). TB tattled on a
WANDERING TATTLER at Seal Rock on 8/27. 15 WHIMBRELS flew north off
Boiler Bay on 8/23 (PP). A MARBLED GODWIT probed an Idaho Flats tidal
channel on 9/19 (KM).
A ROCK SANDPIPER occupied YBSJ rocks on 9/2 (CP). A BUFF-BREASTED
SANDPIPER joined 12 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS at roadside rainpools at YBSJ at
8/23 (DF); 8 Pectorals pecked in Eckman Lake on 9/6 (EH) and 13 on 9/16
(KM). 1100 Calidris species flew and fed in Alsea Bay on 9/16 (KM).
4 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS in Eckman lake on 9/6 (EH) increased to 6 on
9/21, which SaL determined to be juveniles. BGPT counted 11 RED
PHALAROPES on 8/25 and 45 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES on 8/25, 48 on 9/6, and
36 on 9/8.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.59 JAEGERS - TERNS
13 POMARINE JAEGERS were off Newport on 8/25, 5 on 9/6, and 14 on
9/8 (BGPT), and PP saw one off Boiler Bay on 9/13. 7 PARASITIC JAEGERS
were off Newport on 8/25, 6 on 9/6, and 5 on 9/8; 3 were off Boiler Bay
on 8/28 and 1 was off D River on 8/30 (PP). BGPT counted 126
LONG-TAILED JAEGERS on 8/25 and 7 on 9/6 and 1 SOUTH POLAR SKUA on both 9/6
and 9/8. On 8/25, BGPT enjoyed over an hour of intense instruction in
jaeger plumage and body shape while observing a rare pale phase juvenile
Long-tailed, a pale Parasitic, and a dark-phase adult Pomarine among more
usual adult and immature plumages (GG).
One BONAPARTE'S GULL was off Boiler Bay on 9/17 (PP). 400 WESTERN
GULLS flew south there on 8/23; numbers otherwise ranged from 50 to 200,
and Glaucous-winged Gull numbers never topped 5 (PP). HEERMANN'S GULL
numbers off Boiler Bay varied widely and peaked on 9/2, when 200 flew N
(PP); 50 flew north there on 8/28 (TB). Heermann's Gull flight off
Yachats averaged 7/hour south on 9/3 but 0 on 9/16 (KM). CALIFORNIA GULL
northward flight topped 200 on 8/23 and 9/17, but 250 flew south on 9/2
(PP). CALIFORNIA GULL flight off Yachats on 9/3 averaged 26/hour south
but on 9/16 averaged 17/hr north (KM). 18 mostly adult RING-BILLED GULLS
flocked in Eckman Lake on 9/16, and several dozen were in Alsea Bay the
same day (KM). 1 MEW GULL flew north off Yachats on 9/3; 20 fed together
in Sally's Bend on 9/19 (KM). Lone BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES flew off
Boiler Bay on 8/24 and 9/17 (PP). SABINE'S GULLS off Newport numbered
200 on 8/25, 19 on 9/6, and 8 on 9/8 (BGPT).
A FORSTER'S TERN visited YBSJ roadside rainpools on 8/23 (DF).
45 ARCTIC TERNS were off Newport on 8/25, 1 on 9/6, and 9 on 9/8 (BGPT);
2 visited Siletz Bay on 9/6 (AJ). 10 COMMON TERNS flew off Boiler Bay on
9/13, and on 9/21, a juvenile landed on the kelp there (PP). Single
CASPIAN TERNS flew off Boiler Bay on 8/23 and 9/2 (PP).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.60 ALCIDS
On 8/25, a citizen brought in a live oiled THICK-BILLED MURRE to the
USFWS field office in Newport; it is recovering at the Oregon Coast
Aquarium (DF).
COMMON MURRE numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 9/21, when over
500 flew north (PP). BGPT heard many juvenile begging calls among the
336 noted off Newport on 9/6. Northward COMMON MURRE flight off Yachats
on 9/3 averaged 12/hour and on 9/16, 27/hr (KM).
According to RL, University of Washington monitoring of COMMON
MURRES at Yaquina Head indicates that breeding was highly successful this
year, as it was at many other sites. However, BALD EAGLES cause great
disturbance at most murre colonies from Otter Rock to Tillamook Head: few
young were produced in that region, and some colonies, including Gull
Rock off Otter Crest, are now abandoned. Few dead murre chicks were on
the USFWS beach mortality transect this summer (DP), also indicating a
successful year. Similarly, B&SLo and LO found comparatively low numbers
of COMMON MURRES - 8 adult and 7 HY - dead along 4.6 miles of beach near
Thiel Creek in August. Forage (schooling) fish, murres' major food, were
abundant during June USFWS aerial surveys (RL, DP). In summary, it was a
highly productive year for murres away from eagles, but the eagles are
probably here to stay.
This is the third year in a row PP has observed a strong influx of
PIGEON GUILLEMOTS at Boiler Bay within a one week period in late August
to early September, perhaps related to water temperature or food source.
Boiler Bay guillemot numbers were highest on 8/23, when over 400 flew
north (PP). PIGEON GUILLEMOT flight off Yachats on 9/3 averaged 2/hour
north, and none was recorded on 9/16 (KM).
MARBLED MURRELET numbers at Boiler Bay peaked on 9/21 at 87, and
RHINOCEROS AUKLET numbers peaked at over 250 on 8/24 (PP). RHINOCEROS
AUKLET flight off Yachats on 9/3 averaged 14/hour south; none was
recorded on 9/16 (KM). The one TUFTED PUFFIN reported was off Boiler Bay
on 8/30 (PP).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.61 DOVES - CROSSBILLS
A MOURNING DOVE frequented J&LM's Coquille Point yard from early
August through 9/9. A PYGMY OWL had a stunning experience on J&JG's
Yachats window on 9/2; its fate remains unknown.
A small green-backed light-breasted hummingbird lacking rufous at
J&JG's Yachats feeder beginning in early August may have been a
CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD; it sat when at the feeder rather than hovered, as
do the more common species. An ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD remaining in J&LM's
Coquille Point yard through the summer as of 9/9 tried to chase copious
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS away from the feeder. Another ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD
appeared at BB's Yachats yard as of 9/7. Some of J&JG's RUFOUS
HUMMINGBIRDS began leaving as of 9/4.
A flock of GRAY JAYS at J&JG's forested Yachats property during the
last week of August ate pie dough and suet. This explains the absence of
this species in my yard; I eat any extra pie dough myself.
A HORNED LARK roamed the vast open ranges of the Yaquina Head
parking lot on 9/17 (TM). CP noted 2 AMERICAN PIPITS at YBSJ on 9/13.
In addition to hawking insects, CEDAR WAXWINGS added shorebird behavior
to their feeding repertoire as they picked spherical items, possibly
water milfoil fruits, from Eckman Lake mudflats on 9/3 (KM).
PP saw a MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER at D River on 8/30, and a
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER visited J&LM's Coquille Point yard on 9/7. DF
found a CHIPPING SPARROW at HMSC on 8/23. Juvenile DARK-EYED JUNCOS
appeared in J&LM's Coquille Point yard as of 9/9. The last of many
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS in J&LM's Coquille Point yard left at the end of
August, but the first week of that month brought RED CROSSBILLS there to
herald the approach of fall.
OBSERVERS: Betty Bahn, Bird Guide Pelagic Trips (BGPT), Tanya Bray,
Bureau of Land Management staff at Yaquina Head ONA (BLM), David Fix,
James and Janice Gerdemann, Greg Gilson, Eric Horvath, Alvaro Jaramillo,
Sally Lockyear (SaL), Bob Loeffel, Shirley Loeffel, Roy Lowe, John and
Linda MacKown, Kathy Merrifield, Terry Morse, Laimons Osis, Chuck Philo,
Dave Pitkin, Phil Pickering.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
01.62 BIRD FIELD NOTES from the October 2001 Sandpiper 22(8)
Comments in this column about abundance or seasonality refer to
LINCOLN COUNTY only.
Abbreviations and some Lincoln Co. site locations: Beaver
Creek=creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park, Boone Slough=freshwater
slough at about mile 8.9 along north Yaquina Bay Road, Eckman Lake=lake
just east of Waldport along Hwy 34, Eckman Slough=slough between Alsea
Bay and Eckman Lake, Fowler Oyster Company, mp 7.8 on Yaquina Bay Road,
HMSC=Hatfield Marine Science Center, HY=hatch-year (bird that hatched in
2001), Idaho Flats=large embayment just east of the HMSC, McKinney
Slough=Slough about 1/5 mile east of Waldport on Hwy 34, NWR=National
Wildlife Refuge, OCA=Oregon Coast Aquarium, Ona Beach=state park about
6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along Hwy 101, Sally's Bend=large
embayment east of the LNG tank at Yaquina Bay, Thiel Creek=creek about
3.5 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge, Tidewater=about 8 mi east of
Waldport, Wandemere=about 0.5 mi north of Ona Beach along Hwy 101, Wecoma
Dock=HMSC research vessel dock on South Beach Peninsula, YBSJ=Yaquina Bay
South Jetty.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.63 LOONS - GREBES
PP's seawatches from Boiler Bay on 11 days averaged 1.5 hours/day.
RED-THROATED LOON numbers peaked at least 30 on 10/16, PACIFIC LOON
numbers peaked on 10/16 when over 2000 formed a continuous southward-
flying stream, and COMMON LOON numbers peaked at 50 on 10/16.
5 PACIFIC LOONS were off Newport on 9/29 (BGPT), and 1 in winter plumage
was offshore 5 miles south of Waldport on 10/12 (JG). 2 COMMON LOONS
just off Seal Rock on 9/22 retained breeding plumage(JG).
Also off Boiler Bay, a HORNED GREBE flew south with shearwaters on
9/22, 9 were offshore on 10/20 (PP), and 1 was in Alsea Bay near McKinney
Slough on 10/13 (KC). 9 PIED-BILLED GREBES dove in Eckman Lake on 9/30
and 6 on 10/14 (KM). From 1 to 3 RED-NECKED GREBES were off Boiler Bay
throughout the period; WESTERN GREBE numbers peaked at 70 on 9/28 (PP).
On 9/22, over 80 WESTERN GREBES rafted just off Seal Rock, joined by
probably many more to the west (JG). A CLARK'S GREBE visited Boiler Bay
on 10/10 (PP).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.64 TUBENOSES
10/7 was BGPT's third 3-albatross day: BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS,
LAYSAN ALBATROSS, and SHY ALBATROSS completed their hat trick.
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES off Newport on 9/22 pecked blue sharks' noses as
they competed for chum; the albatrosses played tug-of-war with each other
and did a little swimming dance when bumped by sharks, who almost always
ended up with the larger pieces of chum (GG). Blue sharks also chased
NORTHERN FULMARS in the great chum contest.
BGPT had several pelagic trips out of Newport; their results for
tubenoses, provided by GG, TS, SS, and WH are below.
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS: 22, 9/22; 5, 9/29; 274, 10/7; LAYSAN ALBATROSS:
1, 10/6; 2, 10/7; SHY ALBATROSS; 1, 10/7; NORTHERN FULMAR: 25, 9/22;
11, 9/29; 300, 10/7; 1, 10/20; SOOTY SHEARWATER: 269, 9/29; hundreds,
10/7; 180, 10/20; SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER: 4, 9/29; 16, 10/7; 1, 10/20;
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER: 5, 9/22; 147, 9/29; 150, 10/7; 5, 10/20; ;
BULLER'S SHEARWATER: 5, 9/22; 31, 9/29; 100, 10/7; 20, 10/20; FLESH-
FOOTED SHEARWATER: 1, 10/6; 6, 10/7; FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL: 82,
9/22; 2, 9/29; 1, 10/7.
B&SLo and LO's dead bird catch was meager along 4.6 miles of beach
near Thiel Creek in August: tubenoses totaled 5 SOOTY SHEARWATERS and
1 NORTHERN FULMAR. In September, 2 SOOTY SHEARWATERS and
1 FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL rounded out the tubenose haul.
In PP's Boiler Bay seawatches, 1 to 2 NORTHERN FULMARS were present
on 4 days from 9/26 to 10/16; SOOTY SHEARWATER numbers peaked on 10/2,
when 2000 flew north, 1 to 2 SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATERS were present on
9/26 and 10/2 and at least 10 flew by on 10/16, PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS
peaked at 40 on 10/6, and 4 BULLER'S SHEARWATERS flew north with Sooties
on 10/2, while 15 joined them flying south on 10/6. A swarm of
shearwaters, probably Sooties, trailed a small sport-fishing boat off
Seal Rock on 9/22 (JG).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.65 PELICANS - HERONS
PP's Boiler Bay BROWN PELICAN numbers peaked on 10/2, when 600 flew
north; 30 plus a couple of unidentified buteos spiraled up in a thermal
over the Yaquina Bay Bridge on 10/15 (RC), and at least 40 rested on
fingers of the YBSJ on 10/17, accompanied by their kleptoparasites,
HEERMANN'S GULLS (DD).
A flock 17 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS flew south over Newport on 9/30
(RB), and a flock of about 10 flew north off Boiler Bay on 9/28 (PP),
where BRANDT'S CORMORANTS flew north on at least 6 of PP's 11 sea-watch
days, peaking at over 3000 northward fliers on 9/28.
RB counted about 162 GREAT BLUE HERONS at Yaquina Bay embayments on
8/23. 7 GREAT EGRETS were in Idaho Flats on 9/8 (JS), and 6 stood in a
row near Boone Slough on 10/5 (RC). Herons demonstrated pecking order
for JS at Eckman Lake on 9/8, where a GREAT BLUE HERON chased a
GREAT EGRET. 2 GREEN HERONS fished there on 10/14 (KM).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.66 WATERFOWL
On 9/4, 74 CANADA GEESE flew over Yachats, and 13 landed on the
Yachats Commons on 9/13 (BB); 101 floated near an adult BALD EAGLE in
Sally's Bend on 10/13 (CP). 35 Cackling Canadas flew south over
Wandemere on 10/16 (RC). A dozen BRANT led a flying flock of scoters off
Newport on 10/6 (SS). On 9/26, a lone WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE swam in Eckman
Lake, over which 55 flew SW to NE on 9/30 (RL), and a lone juvenile was
at Eckman Slough on 10/12 (JG). Several huge flocks of
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew south over Siletz on 10/13 (CP), and at sunset
on 10/16, at least 75 flew over Logsden towards Mary's Peak (BL).
12 WOOD DUCKS foraged in Eckman Lake on 9/30 (KM), and 3 were in
BL's Logsden beaver pond on 10/16. Flocks of 7 and 15 GREEN-WINGED TEAL
flew south off Seal Rock on 8/23 (DP), over 1000 were off Boiler Bay on
9/26 (PP), and a few had arrived at Beaver Creek as of 10/20 (YBNFT). On
9/14, 50 MALLARDS rested on the Yachats River and then flew south (BB).
The 18 NORTHERN PINTAILS in Eckman Lake on 9/30 had increased to 40
by 10/14 (KM); off Boiler Bay, over 5000 flew south on 9/26 (PP).
AMERICAN WIGEONS at Eckman Lake increased to at least 80 on 10/12 (JG),
600 flocked in northeast Alsea Bay on 10/14 (KM), and 200 on 9/26 and
120 on 10/6 were off Boiler Bay (PP). A EURASIAN WIGEON was in Idaho
Flats on 10/17 (TB). 1 GADWALL male still at Eckman lake on 9/30 was
finally joined by 4 other males on 10/14 (KM); a pair was off Boiler Bay
on 10/6 (WH). 2 NORTHERN SHOVELERS probed Eckman Lake waters on 9/30 as
did 6 on 10/14 (KM); over 200 were off Boiler Bay on 9/26 (PP).
Why was 1 early REDHEAD at Lincoln City Sewage Ponds on 9/28 (AS)?
Only his hairdresser knows for sure.
A HARLEQUIN DUCK swam at YBSJ on 9/30, and on 10/18, 12 gathered on
an offshore rock to squeak at and then silently observe KM's intertidal
pursuits. Rafts of scoters continue: over 150 gathered just off Seal
Rock on 9/22, and 200 were 5 miles south of Waldport on 10/12; SURF
SCOTERS outnumbered WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS (JG). Several hundred rafted at
the Yachats River mouth on 10/6 (SL). 1100 Surfs surfed west of Yaquina
Head on 10/14, but 40 White-winged were scattered to the southeast, and
120 BLACK SCOTERS formed small flocks in the winter lee north of the head
(KM). BLACK SCOTER numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 10/16 at 16,
including a pure flock of 9 flying south; White-winged numbers peaked at
300 on 9/29 and Surf numbers on 10/2, when 2500 flew south (PP). A
LONG-TAILED DUCK was off Boiler Bay on 9/26 (PP). 30 COMMON MERGANSERS
were at Idaho Flats on 9/25 (JGr). Up to 19 HOODED MERGANSERS dove in
Eckman Lake on 9/30 and 10/14 (KM).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.67 HAWKS - PHEASANTS
P&BW saw the last Tidewater TURKEY VULTURES about 9/15. An OSPREY
fished over the Yachats River on 9/5 (BB). Single WHITE-TAILED KITES
flew over the YBSJ base on 9/27 (AS) and Idaho Flats on 10/1 (JL). ML
pointed out one over Logsden to BL on 10/11, the first he'd seen there
for awhile. Another hovered over Idaho Flats and the OCA on 10/17 (LM,
WH), and on 10/18, a kite harrying a soaring RED-TAILED HAWK over Boone
Slough won the skirmish (RC). Two pearl gray male NORTHERN HARRIERS flew
over HMSC on 10/10 (RC), and one was at YBSJ on 10/20 (JS). At Ona
Beach, an adult BALD EAGLE greeted YBNFT on 10/20.
1 immature COOPER'S HAWK hunted at BB's Yachats feeder on 8/16;
others were at Seal Rock on 10/1 (CP) and at HMSC on 9/17 and 10/3 (RL)
and 10/17 (DD). At Eckman Lake, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK appeared on 9/25
(RL), and another cruised through RC's Wandemere yard on 10/18. More
Sharp-shinned notes are under woodpeckers.
On 10/17, WH saw at least 9 RED-TAILED HAWKS within a small area
2-4 miles west of Toledo; some circled high and crossed the bay. A
juvenile RED-TAILED HAWK awaited YBNFT at Beaver Creek on 10/2. Single
PEREGRINE FALCONS visited Yaquina Head on 9/6, 9/7, and 9/29 (BLM), and
1 was at Boiler Bay on 9/28 (PP). At RC's Wandemere 10/14 Big Sit, a
low-flying Peregrine thrilled early afternoon sitters, who may have
become excited enough to stand. A MERLIN was near McKinney Slough on
10/13 (KC).
A RING-NECKED PHEASANT was in South Beach on 10/12 (JL). A
RUFFED GROUSE greeted SSc by her driveway with flared tail and ruffed
neck feathers on 10/17; as she drove past, he remained motionless.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.68 PLOVERS - JAEGERS
53 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS gathered in Alsea Bay near McKinney Slough
on 10/13 (KC).
GREATER YELLOWLEGS in Eckman Lake numbered 7 on both 9/8 (JS) and
9/30 (KM); 6 were in Alsea Bay near McKinney Slough on 10/13 (KC). A
WANDERING TATTLER along the Yachats 804 Trail pulled food off rocks on
9/23 (SaL); 4 strayed to the beach side of YBSJ on 9/27 (AS). Single
MARBLED GODWITS were in Idaho Flats on 9/8 (JS), 10/17 (DD), and 10/20
(JS). PP spotted a ROCK SANDPIPER at Boiler Bay on 10/16 (PP). RW knew
winter was coming when she noted a huge flock of SANDERLINGS on the
Florence (Lane County) docks. 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS remained in Eckman
Lake on 9/8 (JS), and 4 were at south Lincoln City sewage ponds on both
9/25 and 9/28 (AS). YBNFT found a COMMON SNIPE at Ona Beach SP on 10/20.
Up to 2 RED PHALAROPES were off Newport on 9/29 and 10/20 (BGPT), and PP
saw 30 off Boiler Bay on 10/6. BGPT counted 3 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES off
Newport on 9/22, 20 on 10/7, and 4 on 10/20.
BGPT's skua and jaeger numbers from TS, SS, WH, and GG follow:
SOUTH POLAR SKUA: 1, 9/22; 1, 9/29; 5, 10/6; 4, 10/7; POMARINE JAEGER:
21, 9/29; 60 harassing gulls and tubenoses, 10/7; 5, 10/20;
PARASITIC JAEGER: 5, 9/22, 5, 9/29; 3, 10/7; LONG-TAILED JAEGER: 2,
10/7. 2 PARASITIC JAEGERS were off Siletz Bay on 9/25, and they were
present from 9/26 through 10/16 off Boiler Bay, peaking at 9 on 9/26
(PP). POMARINE JAEGERS off Boiler Bay from 9/26 to 10/7 peaked at 6 on
9/28, and 1 LONG-TAILED JAEGER flew by on 9/28 (PP).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.69 GULLS - TERNS
BGPT counted 67 HEERMANN'S GULLS were off Newport on 9/22 and 46 on
9/29. Heermann's numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 10/2, when over 1000
flew north, but 200 flew south on 10/16 (PP). A winter-plumaged
FRANKLIN'S GULL flew north off Boiler Bay on 10/2; 15 BONAPARTE'S GULLS
were there on 9/28 (PP), and 1 was in Idaho Flats on 10/17 (DD). At
least 100 RING-BILLED GULLS were in Alsea Bay near McKinney Slough on
10/13 (KC). The return of the MEW GULLS highlighted BGPT's exit from
Yaquina Bay on 9/29 (SS); Mew numbers off Boiler Bay peaked at 16 on 10/6
& 10 (PP).
On 9/30, following warm weather, insect hatches and mating flights
induced hundreds of CALIFORNIA GULLS and smaller numbers of
RING-BILLED GULLS to remain in circling flight for hours hawking termites
and other insects over Cannon Beach (Tillamook County; BG) and South
Beach (RB, WH). At 1100 PDT, over 800 Californias hawked insects over
YBSJ; intersnatch intervals of one averaged 7 seconds (KM). Also on
9/30, 250 Californias hawked insects over Beaver Creek at Ona Beach as
well as 15 Ring-billeds and 5 Californias over Clark's Market in
Waldport, 50 Californias over the Yachats River mouth, and 90 over the
Alsea Bay Bridge at 1700; 35 Californias hawked at dusk in Sally's Bend
in a ground-level flock including 2 sizes of termites and other smaller
insects (KM). In warm, calm 10/15 weather, more Californias hawked
insects at RC's Wandemere house.
A rare dogless, humanless interval in the Yachats River mouth on
10/14 allowed 2100 CALIFORNIA GULLS to accumulate there; rivermouth
California numbers have usually peaked in October (KM). 4 adult
HERRING GULLS were at the D River on 9/25, along with one
HERRING X GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL and a probable HERRING X GLAUCOUS GULL
(PP). Single THAYER'S GULLS were off Boiler Bay on 9/28, 10/7, and
10/16, and Herring numbers there peaked at over 10 on 10/6 (PP). The
first juvenile HERRING GULL and THAYER'S GULL hit the D River parking lot
on 10/12 (splat?); also present was a 2nd-winter Thayer's (PP). The
first 2 pure-looking juvenile GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS PP saw this year were
off Boiler Bay on 10/2. BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES off Boiler Bay from 9/28
through 10/20 peaked at 13 on 10/2 (PP), and at least 1 was off Newport
on 10/7 (WH). 3 SABINE'S GULLS were off Newport on 9/22, followed by 4
on 9/29 and 30 on 10/7 (BGPT), and 2 juveniles were off Boiler Bay on
9/26 (PP).
BGPT saw an ARCTIC TERN off Newport on 9/22.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.70 ALCIDS
Note on dead murre chicks on beaches: RL commented in last month's
Sandpiper that low chick numbers indicated a successful breeding year.
BLo has observed high chick numbers (800 to 1200) correlating with
successful breeding years. Comments, anyone? 8 adult and 7 HY
COMMON MURRES were found dead along 4.6 miles of beach near Thiel Creek
in August (B&SLo, LO). In addition to 25 adult murres, the 18 September
chicks along B&SLo and LO's Thiel Creek beach stretch bring the year's
total there to 35. Chick location calls of COMMON MURRES at YBSJ were
audible through at least 9/30 (KM). The oiled THICK-BILLED MURRE found
on Nye Beach and rehabilitated at OCA was released on 10/7 off Newport
(RB, BGPT). PIGEON GUILLEMOTS peaked at 5 in breeding plumage on 9/22
but continued off Boiler Bay through 10/20 (PP); 20 were off Newport on
9/29 (BGPT), and 3 (1 adult, 2 HY) were off Yaquina Head on 10/14 (KM).
MARBLED MURRELET numbers off Boiler Bay peaked at 40 on 9/22 and reached
only 3 thereafter (PP); 8 swam off Seal Rock the same day (JG).
2 well-described XANTU'S MURRELETS flew off Boiler Bay on 10/2,
RHINOCEROS AUKLET numbers there peaked at 20 on 10/16, and a
TUFTED PUFFIN was there on 10/6 (PP). Also at Boiler Bay on 10/6, PP
witnessed a jaw-dropping southward flight of 15,0000 CASSIN'S AUKLETS";
otherwise, he saw 1 to 2 there on 10/2, 10/4, and 10/10.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.71 PIGEONS - SWALLOWS
A BAND-TAILED PIGEON was near McKinney Slough on 10/13 (KC).
On about 9/24, GREAT HORNED OWLS called to each other across the
Alsea River under the full moon above the fog at Tidewater (P&BW);
another visited Yaquina Head on 9/29 (BLM).
A BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD visited BB's Yachats feeder on 5/17, and
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS followed on 8/21-22. A female or immature Anna's
appeared at Wandemere on 9/26, and one sang from the alders there on 10/2
(RC). The last RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS left P&BW's Tidewater feeders after
the first half of September.
Brave woodpeckers live east of Waldport: On 9/30, a
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK twice flushed a female PILEATED WOODPECKER that had
been calmly feeding on insects; after being flushed, the woodpecker
landed within a few feet of the hawk and took little notice of it
thereafter (RL). On 10/8, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK tried to attack an
apple-eating PILEATED WOODPECKER 4 miles east of Waldport; the woodpecker
sounded an alarm and chased the hawk out of the area (J&KC). Another
PILEATED WOODPECKER visited BL's Logsden beaver pond on 10/16.
NORTHERN FLICKERS first appeared at Yaquina Head on 9/3 (BLM), and
2 were near McKinney Slough on 10/13 (KC). An intergrade
red-shafted/yellow-shafted NORTHERN FLICKER that returned to Wandemere on
10/4 may be the same bird that wintered there in 1999 and 2000 (RC). An
(the?) intergrade showed up for the 10/14 Big Sit and again on 10/16 to
ground-hunt insects (RC). PW's first sighting of a RED-BREASTED
SAPSUCKER was on 9/26; another was east of Waldport on 10/7 (J&KC).
A TROPICAL KINGBIRD was near Wecoma Dock on 10/17 (TB).
On 9/10, 2 PURPLE MARTINS at Fowler Oyster Company were going to
roost in nest boxes late on 9/10, the last day EH encountered them this
year, so he suspects they were there on 9/11. EH's colony there this
year had 18 martin pairs, and the 2001 total for Yaquina Bay was 42
pairs. Thank you, EH!
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.72 BUSHTITS - WARBLERS
A flock of BUSHTITS and a BEWICK'S WREN, both uncommon yard visitors
in Wandemere, joined RC's Big Sit on 10/14.
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS first arrived in EH's South Beach yard on
9/23. Mixed flocks of RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS,
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, BUSHTITS, and one Myrtle
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER were 5 miles south of Waldport on 10/12 (JG).
JL heard early VARIED THRUSHES around Newport about 10/12, soon
after a cold front passed. SWAINSON'S THRUSHES were absent beginning the
first half of September at P&BW's Tidewater feeder; they might have gone
to Neskowin (Tillamook County), where 2 died hitting SSc's windows on
9/17 and 9/22. Single HERMIT THRUSHES were in Neskowin on 10/7 (SSc),
near McKinney Slough on 10/13 (KC), and in RC's Wandemere "warbler spot"
on 10/15.
EUROPEAN STARLINGS joined insect-hawking gulls over South Beach on
9/30 (RB).
AMERICAN PIPITS were at Yaquina Head from 9/24-30 (BLM), 1 flew off
Boiler Bay on 10/7, and JS heard at least one call from Idaho Flats on
10/20.
BL counted over 100 CEDAR WAXWINGS in the trees around his Logsden
home on 10/13 - the most he has ever seen there.
A small group of TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS appeared in J&KC's east
Waldport yard on 10/3 along with CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES and
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES. Last year, Townsend's spent the winter there
eating peanut butter and catching spiders. A PALM WARBLER made a brief
appearance at the D River in Lincoln City on 10/15 (PP).
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were in Ona Beach SP on 10/20 (YBNFT).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.73 TOWHEES - HOUSE SPARROWS
On 9/28, RC exulted in the bright rufous cap and brilliant white
throat and supralorals contrasting with the dark gray face, malar stripe,
and breast of a GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE, which foraged on the ground under
one of her Wandemere feeders.
FOX SPARROWS dug around in soil under SL's Yachats feeders on 10/6
and joined RC and her guests for the 10/14 Big Sit and YBNFT at Ona Beach
SP on 10/20. SWAMP SPARROWS were at D River on 10/9 (PP) and the Idaho
Flats nature trail on 10/17 (TB). 2 SAVANNAH SPARROWS of the yellow-
faced Alaska subspecies were at YBSJ on 10/20 (JS). A Gambel's
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW - "a very striking bird" - visited CP's Toledo
feeder on 9/26. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS returned as of 9/29 at P&BW's
Tidewater feeder following August absence. A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW
foraged on the ground under one of RC's Wandemere feeders on 10/12, and
two were there on 10/14 for the Big Sit. JS noted a GOLDEN-CROWNED
SPARROW along the Idaho Flats nature trail on 10/20. DARK-EYED JUNCOS
arrived as of 9/29 at P&BW's Tidewater feeder and on 10/3 in Wandemere
(RC).
1 BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK was south of Waldport on 9/8 (JS); they were
absent beginning the first half of September at P&BW's Tidewater feeder.
JGr spotted a WESTERN MEADOWLARK along the Idaho Flats nature trail
on 9/30, and another was there on 10/20 (JS). On 10/13, RS spotted a
female or immature ORCHARD ORIOLE towards the south end of the Idaho
Flats nature trail. It was still there on 10/14 (FS), 10/15 (SSt), and
10/16 (RF, SM, and DD).
PINE SISKINS were plentiful again at P&BW's Tidewater yard as of
9/29. AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES remained through at least 10/13 in Tidewater,
giving P&BW the unusual chance to see their winter plumage in more than
just books. EVENING GROSBEAKS were present through the first half of
September at P&BW's Tidewater feeder.
Gulls and starlings were not the only species to cash in on fall
insect abundance; on 10/15, HOUSE SPARROWS flitted out of their favorite
cotoneaster bush at the Newport YMCA to grab flying ants (RC).
OBSERVERS: Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
at Yaquina Head, Trent Bray, Rebecca Cheek, Jorrie & Ken Ciotti (J&KC),
Karen Cradler (KC), Carol Cramer, Don DeWitt, Reid Freeman,
Joel Geier (JG), Greg Gillson, Brian Godfrey, Jill Grover (JGr),
Wayne Hoffman, Eric Horvath, Janet Lamberson, Bob Llewellyn,
Martha Llewellyn, Bob Loeffel (BLo), Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe,
Sylvia Maulding, Larry McQueen, Kathy Merrifield, Laimons Osis,
Chuck Philo, Phil Pickering, Dave Pitkin, Alan Schmierer, Floyd Schrock,
Shirley Schwartz (SSc), Tim Shelmerdine, Steven Shunk, Jamie Simmons,
Richard Smith, Shawn Steinberg (SSt), Ruth Warren, Pat Wright, Bunny
Wright, Yaquina Birders and Naturalists Field Trip (YBNFT), comprising
LO, BB, SSc, & CC.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
01.74 BIRD FIELD NOTES from the November 2001 Sandpiper 22(9)
The Sandpiper is a publication of Yaquina Birders & Naturalists.
Comments in this column about abundance or seasonality refer to
LINCOLN COUNTY only.
Abbreviations and some Lincoln Co. site locations: Coquille
Point=SE Corner of Sally's Bend, Drift Creek Meadow=field south of Gorton
Road (from Hwy 101 south of Cutler City, turn onto Drift Cr. Road, drive
about 0.4 mi, and then turn onto Gorton Road), Eckman Lake=lake just east
of Waldport along Hwy 34, Eckman Slough=slough between Alsea Bay and
Eckman Lake, HMSC =Hatfield Marine Science Center, HY=hatch-year (bird
that hatched in 2001), Idaho Flats=large embayment just east of the HMSC,
Lost Creek SP=part about 4.75 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge, Newport
Heights=1 mile east of downtown Newport, OCA=Oregon Coast Aquarium, Thiel
Creek=creek about 3.5 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge, Thornton
Creek=creek between Toledo and Eddyville, Tidewater=about 8 mi east of
Waldport, Wandemere=about 0.5 mi north of Ona Beach along Hwy 101,
YBSJ=Yaquina Bay South Jetty.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.75 CORRECTION TO LAST MONTH'S FIELD NOTES
KM's jaw dropped when she saw the extra zero she accidentally
inserted into PP's count of CASSIN'S AUKLETS from Boiler Bay on 10/6.
His actual count was 15,000 - amazing WITHOUT KM's typo.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.76 LOONS
PP's seawatches on 16 days from Boiler Bay averaged 1.41 hours per
day). RED-THROATED LOONS peaked at 2500 on 11/9, PACIFIC LOONS peaked at
over 10,000 on 11/9, and COMMON LOONS peaked at over 1000 on 11/9; all
flew south. PP also saw one YELLOW-BILLED LOON fly south there on 11/5.
Loons streamed past Boiler Bay almost constantly on 10/25 (TB, JS, LJ),
and enormous flights of Red-throateds, along with over 500 Pacifics, flew
south there on 11/1 (TH, DS). To put loon migrations into perspective,
PP wrote on 10/26 that peak loon flights have occurred from the last few
days of October through the first two weeks of November but seemed slow
to start this year. The densest flights have always been associated with
and following strong weather fronts passing through the Gulf of Alaska
and over the BC coast. Pretty Prophetic! Perhaps, points out PP, the
greater average density of fall than of spring flights here is due to our
relative proximity to their fall staging waters, presumably somewhere in
BC.
Boiler Bay is only one good loon-watching point: over 6000 Pacifics
flew south off Lincoln City on 11/16, along with a few Red-throateds and
Commons (PP).
KM sampled seabird flight direction off Yachats for a total of 35
minutes over 2.5 hours on 10/28 and 20 minutes over 1.5 hours on 11/11;
southward loon spp. flight averaged 60/hour south on 10/28 and 84/hour on
11/11. PP observes the densest flights in the morning; KM's counts are
usually in the early afternoon and may not include peak numbers.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.77 GREBES
4 HORNED GREBES were in Boiler Bay on 11/20 (AS). No reports were
received from bay waters, but they've gotta be there. Is anyone checking
the bays? 1 or more EARED GREBES were present in Eckman Lake on 11/1
(DF). RED-NECKED GREBES at Boiler Bay numbered 6 or fewer until 11/20,
when 53 flew south; one CLARK'S GREBE appeared on 11/8, and WESTERN GREBE
numbers there peaked at 110 on 11/7. Red-neckeds were also at YBSJ on
10/25 (TB, JS, LJ).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.78 TUBENOSES - HERONS
Just one tubenose, a single SOOTY SHEARWATER, was found dead in
systematic beached bird walks along 4.6 miles of beach near Thiel Creek
in October (B&SLo, LO). SOOTY SHEARWATER activity off Boiler Bay was
sporadic: over 4000 were there on 10/21, over 1500 flew south on 10/31,
and over 3000 flew north on 11/10; SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER numbers there
peaked on 11/11 at 19 and 11/20 at 20 (PP). Also at Boiler Bay, PP noted
1 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER on 11/9, 2 BULLER'S SHEARWATERS on 10/31 and 1
southbound on 11/8, and one BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER on 11/11. TB, JS,
and LJ noted at least 5 Sooties and one possible Short-tailed there on
10/25.
Off Boiler Bay, differing BROWN PELICAN flight directional trends
alternated with feeding. Northward flight peaked at 300 on 10/2, and
southward flight peaked at 400 on 11/16 (PP). Most of the 120 flying
south there on 11/4 were immatures (WH), and the many there on 10/25 were
joined by their ubiquitous companions, HEERMANN'S GULLS (TB, JS, LJ).
500 flew south off Lincoln City on 11/16 (PP). At least 250 pelicans
rested at YBSJ on 10/25 (TB, JS, LJ), and 17 floated out with the tide
through the Alsea River jaws on 10/24, unresponsive to antagonism by a
black dog (JMr). On 11/19, BW saw over 30 pelicans plunge-diving in
Alsea Bay as far east as 2 miles upriver. Pelican flight off Yachats
averaged 5/hour south on 10/28 and 12/hour south on 11/11 (KM).
BRANDT'S CORMORANTS off Boiler Bay flew north on several of PP's
seawatch days; northward fliers peaked at 150 on 10/31, but 100 flew
south on 11/16. 0 to 2 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS were there on all days
except for 18 flying south on 11/4, (WH), 18 flying south on 11/5, and
1150 flying south on 11/9 (PP).
In Lincoln City, a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON flew over PP and
presumably under the meteors during the Leonid meteor shower early on
11/18.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.79 WATERFOWL
40 BRANT arrived in Idaho Flats as of 11/8 (JG). Off Boiler Bay,
southward flying Aleutian CANADA GEESE numbered 110 on 10/22, 21 on
10/23, and 17 on both 10/24 and 10/31 (PP). Two flocks of CANADA GEESE,
probably westerns, joined the heron as they, too, flew over Lincoln City
and PP under the early 11/18 meteor shower.
Off Boiler Bay, GREEN-WINGED TEAL peaked at 40 on 10/23,
NORTHERN PINTAILS peaked at 6 on 10/23, and one AMERICAN WIGEON flew
south on 11/15 (PP). One EURASIAN WIGEON joined many AMERICAN WIGEONS in
Idaho Flats on 10/25 (TB, JS, LJ). Backlit NORTHERN PINTAILS,
RING-NECKED DUCKS, and AMERICAN WIGEONS inspired SaL at Eckman Lake on
11/5. DF reminds us that Eckman Lake is indeed an excellent locality: he
saw 11 species of waterfowl alone there on 10/29.
Up to 2 GREATER SCAUPS were off Boiler Bay on 6 of PP's seawatch
days, and 2 LESSER SCAUPS were there on 10/31; scaups not identifiable to
species were present on 7 seawatch days, peaking at 25 on 10/31. DF
noted a CANVASBACK in Eckman Lake on 11/1.
Off Boiler Bay, southward flying SURF SCOTERS peaked at over 6000 on
10/23, when large groups followed huge wave contours (PP).
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS there peaked on 10/23 at 500 and on 11/20, when 400
flew south; BLACK SCOTER numbers there were below 25 except on 11/20,
when 920 flew south, of which 90% were males. 130 BLACK SCOTERS were off
Moolack Beach on 10/25 (TB, JS, LJ). 800 Blacks were off Yaquina Head on
10/28 and 600 on 11/11; many formed groups of up to 12 (about 5 males:1
female) enacting early portions of their courtship ritual (KM). Scoter
species' southward flight off Yachats averaged 524/hour on 10/28 and
108/hour on 11/11 (KM).
2 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were off Boiler Bay on 10/23 and 1 on 11/9 (PP),
a pair was near the Alsea Bay seawall on 11/10 (BLo), and an adult and an
immature male at YBSJ thrilled CP on 11/19. One HARLEQUIN DUCK was off
Boiler Bay on 11/8 (PP); 2 were noted there on 11/4 (WH), 11/12 (PP), and
11/20 (AS).
Up to 6 BUFFLEHEADS were off Boiler Bay on four of PP's seawatch
days, and COMMON GOLDENEYE male flew south there on 11/8. Dozens of
BUFFLEHEADS were in Idaho Flats on 11/11 (RC).
40 COMMON MERGANSERS in Idaho Flats on 10/30 were the latest
reported lower estuarine fall flock (JG). 8 Commons flying south off
Boiler Bay on 11/5 were followed by 40 on 11/16 (PP). Commons joined
HOODED MERGANSERS in Eckman Lake on 11/1 (DF), and these two species plus
RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS enabled SaL to compare all three merganser
species together there on 11/5. A pair of HOODED MERGANSERS was in Idaho
Flats on 10/30, and 2 drakes and 1 hen were in Olalla Slough in Toledo on
11/12 (DH); most often seen in fresh water, Hoodeds are most common in
brackish water in fall, perhaps due to dilution by rainwater.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.80 HAWKS
2 WHITE-TAILED KITES flew over HMSC on 10/17 (RL), and 2 attacked a
NORTHERN HARRIER over the Sally's Bend LNG tank on 10/28 (CC, WH). One
kite worked the South Beach SP deflation plain on 11/4, its flight
literally reminding DR of a kite on a string. Also on 11/4, 2 kites were
at Idaho Flats (DF). On 11/6, 4 kites over Sally's Bend hunted directly
over SaL and KH; at least two had definitive HY markings, and at least
one was a mature adult. On 11/10, PR saw 2 kites hovering over salt
marsh islands about 2 miles up Alsea Estuary.
When Drift Creek Meadow first flooded on 11/14, an adult and an
immature BALD EAGLE "fished" there for drowning small rodents (PP).
A COOPER'S HAWK passed through east of Lost Creek SP on 10/31 (BLo).
A young SHARP-SHINNED HAWK sat on J&LM's Coquille Point trellis on 11/14,
posing for observation before it procured a couple of feathers from a
finch. A COOPER'S/SHARP-SHINNED HAWK visited D&BM's Waldport yard on
11/8. True experts on impossible, so there's no need to apologize when
we can't tell the difference; we err on the side of accuracy as well as
honesty when we say we just don't know.
10/22 was a good falcon day: CP looked fast enough to see a MERLIN
over Toledo, and a dark juvenile PEREGRINE FALCON flew south over the
mouth of the D River (PP). PM saw a Peregrine over Newport on 10/26.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.81 QUAIL - SHOREBIRDS
Two MOUNTAIN QUAILS were under BB's Yachats feeder on 10/22 - the
first there for two years.
25 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and 8 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS gathered on the
mudflats of south Siletz Bay on 11/7 (PP).
TB, JS, and LJ saw a MARBLED GODWIT in Idaho Flats on 10/25, and
2 ROCK SANDPIPERS joined 100 SURFBIRDS and 1 BLACK TURNSTONE at Depoe Bay
the same day (TB, JS, LJ). 500 DUNLINS, 40 SANDERLINGS, 500
WESTERN SANDPIPERS, and 200 LEAST SANDPIPERS were on the mudflats of
south Siletz Bay on 11/7 (PP). 40 DUNLINS, 1 WESTERN SANDPIPER, and
150 LEAST SANDPIPERS were in Drift Creek Meadow on 11/15 (PP).
It's snipe hunt season! On 10/23, CP saw 9 COMMON SNIPES in a field
near the Toledo post office, and on 10/25, BLo jumped 2 in wet ground
east of the Newport Airport, an area in which he's found them before.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.82 JAEGERS - ALCIDS
1 POMARINE JAEGER flew past the mouth of the D River on 10/22 (PP).
An adult-like FRANKLIN'S GULL flew south off Boiler Bay on 11/13
(PP). Also off Boiler Bay, BONAPARTE'S GULL numbers peaked at 300
southbound on 11/5, HEERMANN'S GULLS at 250 southbound on 11/5, MEW GULLS
at over 60 on 10/24, CALIFORNIA GULLS at 2500 southbound on 11/20,
HERRING GULLS at over 30 on 10/24, and BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES at 12 on
11/6; 1 to 2 THAYER'S GULLS were present on 5 seawatch days, and a
RING-BILLED GULL visited on 11/11 (PP). Over 4000 HERRING GULLS, 2000
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, and over 600 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES flew south
off Spanish Head in Lincoln City on 11/16; another 4000 were Herring
and/or California (PP). WH identified 2 possible HERRING X GLAUCOUS-
WINGED GULLS at Boiler Bay on 11/4. Bonaparte's and Ring-billed visited
Eckman Lake on 11/1 (DF). Over 30 THAYER'S GULLS flocked at the mouth of
the D River on 10/22 (PP). Off Yachats, HEERMANN'S GULL flight averaged
437/hour south on 10/28 and 4/hour south on 11/11; CALIFORNIA GULL flight
averaged 90/hour south on 10/28 and 4/hour south on 11/11 (KM).
A single RHINOCEROS AUKLET was the only alcid found dead along 4.6
miles of beach near Thiel Creek in October (B&SLo, LO). Off Boiler Bay,
COMMON MURRE numbers peaked at 6000 southbound on 11/11, PIGEON
GUILLEMOTS at 10 southbound on 11/20, MARBLED MURRELETS at 45 southbound
in pairs on 11/20, ANCIENT MURRELETS at 95 southbound on 11/20, and
RHINOCEROS AUKLETS at 75 northbound on 10/21 and 120 southbound on 11/11
(PP). WH saw a breeding-plumaged ANCIENT MURRELET off Boiler Bay on
11/4.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.83 DOVES - PYGMY NUTHATCH
A MOURNING DOVE visited one of RC's Wandemere feeders on 11/15-16.
D&BM reported a WHITE-WINGED DOVE at their Waldport feeder on 10/17. The
only other White-winged report in Lincoln County was from the same time
of year - 10/28 to 11/4, 1979.
A pair of ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS was still staking out J&LM's Coquille
Point feeder as of 11/15; they've been there all year. Anna's were also
present in D&BM's Waldport yard throughout the period.
A PILEATED WOODPECKER worked on a hillside snag above Tidewater on
10/24 (BW).
TD saw a possible TROPICAL KINGBIRD near OCA on 10/16. DF
identified and described a TROPICAL KINGBIRD on Idaho Point Road along
the south side of Yaquina Bay on 11/11; CP found it in the same place the
next day.
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, less common than the ever-present
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, returned to D&BM's Waldport yard in early
November.
A few PYGMY NUTHATCHES mixed with many RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES in
tall Douglas firs on a high ridge above Thornton Creek (DF). According
to RB, this is the first Lincoln County record since 1970.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.84 WREN - SISKIN
A BEWICK'S WREN scooted from under cinder blocks across SaL and KH's
Yachats porch on 11/7. J&LM noted another Bewick's on about 11/10 along
Yaquina Bay Road at Coquille Point.
A very large auduboni-type HERMIT THRUSH fed on the nature trail
along the south shore of Siletz Bay on 11/7 (PP). VARIED THRUSHES
returned to BLo's Newport yard as of 10/31 and to P&BW's Tidewater yard
as of 11/17.
Flycatching gulls may have gone south, but their absence did not
stop 50 EUROPEAN STARLINGS from hawking insects all by themselves over
Seal Rock on 11/11 (KM).
A HY CHIPPING SPARROW visited SaL and KH's shore pine and feeder as
of 11/7. The season's first mixed flock of GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS and
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS arrived at DH's feeder on 11/10. Golden-crowneds
joined White-crowneds in D&BM's Waldport Yard on 10/18; FOX SPARROWS were
sporadic there beginning 10/18 but became regulars on 10/26. A
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW visited J&LM's Coquille Point feeder on 11/14.
A LAPLAND LONGSPUR called as it flew over Boiler Bay on 11/11 (PP).
6 adult and HY AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES visited KH's Yachats feeder on
11/6. PINE SISKIN flocks have been feeding in D&BM's Waldport Yard as of
11/5 and at DH's Toledo yard and at her HMSC feeder as of 11/13. RC's
first flock of about 25 siskins visited her Wandemere feeders on 11/16,
and at least 30 healthy siskins were at J&ST's Newport Heights feeders
from 11/17-19 to begin their winter feeding season in Lincoln County.
OBSERVERS: Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Tanya Bray, Carol Cole,
Todd Dunkirk, Darrel Faxon, Jill Grover, Dawn Harris, Tyler Hicks,
Wayne Hoffman, Karen Houston, Laura Johnson, Sally Lockyear (SaL),
Bob Loeffel, Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, John Mare (JMr),
John & Linda MacKown, Kathy Merrifield, Dawson & Bobby Mohler,
Pennie Mumm, Phil Pickering, Polly Rankin, David Robinson,
Alan Schmierer, John Sullivan, Don Sutherland, Jim & Shirley Thielen,
Pat and Bunny Wright.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
01.85 BIRD FIELD NOTES from the December 2001 Sandpiper 22(10)
The Sandpiper is a publication of Yaquina Birders & Naturalists.
Comments in this column about abundance or seasonality refer to
LINCOLN COUNTY only.
Abbreviations and some Lincoln Co. site locations: Bayshore
Beach=ocean beach along north Alsea Bay Spit, Beaver Creek Marsh=marsh
just east of Hwy 101 managed by Wetlands Conservancy, Coquille Point=SE
Corner of Sally's Bend, Eckman Lake=lake just east of Waldport along
Hwy 34, Eckman Slough=slough between Alsea Bay and Eckman Lake,
HMSC=Hatfield Marine Science Center, HY=hatch-year (bird that hatched in
2001), Idaho Flats=large embayment just east of HMSC, OCA=Oregon Coast
Aquarium, Ona Beach=state park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge
along Hwy 101, Sallys Bend=large embayment east of the LNG tank at
Yaquina Bay, Sandpiper Shores=neighborhood directly north of Sandpiper
Village, Sandpiper Village=residential area west of Hwy 101 and just
north of Waldport, Thiel Creek=creek about 3.5 mi south of Yaquina Bay
bridge, Tidewater=about 8 mi east of Waldport, Wandemere=about 0.5 mi
north of Ona Beach along Hwy 101, YBSJ=Yaquina Bay South Jetty.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.86 LOONS - GREBES
PP seawatched an average of 1.61 hours from Boiler Bay on 7 days
during the period. RED-THROATED LOON numbers peaked on 11/25 at 3000,
PACIFIC LOON on 11/23 at 1200, and COMMON LOON on 12/23 at 100; all flew
south. Loon numbers dwindled dramatically by 12/14. 25 COMMON LOONS
gathered at YBSJ on 12/1 (WH). A YELLOW-BILLED LOON appeared in Idaho
Flats on 11/23 (TB, JSu) and remained through 11/26 (AC, KF, WH).
230 WESTERN GREBES flocked in Sally's Bend on 11/25, and several
hundred were there by 12/9 (KM); their numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on
11/23 and 12/2 at 30 (PP). YBSJ hosted 6 RED-NECKED GREBES on 11/23 (TB,
JSu), 2 on 12/1 (WH), and 12 on 12/4 (EM). RED-NECKED GREBE numbers off
Boiler peaked on 12/2, when 9 flew south (PP). AC noted a seafaring
HORNED GREBE off Boiler Bay on 11/25, and 15 to 20 were in Sally's Bend
on 12/4 (EM). 2 EARED GREBE swam off Boiler Bay on 11/25 (AC), 1 was in
Eckman Lake on 11/25 (KM); 3 were in Yaquina Bay on 12/4 (EM) and 1 in
Sally's Bend on 12/9 (KM). 9 PIED-BILLED GREBES were in Eckman Lake on
11/25 (KM).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.87 TUBENOSES - HERONS
3 NORTHERN FULMARS and 1 SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER were found dead
along 4.6 miles of beach near Thiel Creek by B&SLo & LO in their November
systematic beached bird walks.
Single light morph NORTHERN FULMARS were off Boiler Bay on 12/5 and
12/14 and a SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER flew by on 11/23 (PP).
On 11/22 off Lincoln City, small groups of BROWN PELICANS soared
slowly by among a huge stream of gulls (see below; PP), over 1500
pelicans flew southward past Otter Crest (AS), and groups of up to 20
totaling hundreds of immatures flew south off Sandpiper Village in a
stream that lasted for hours (JG). Maybe the one that flew over D&BM's
inland south Waldport yard on 11/25 was a remnant of this excitement.
Off Boiler Bay, pelican numbers peaked on 11/23, when over 800 flew
south; numbers thereafter were not over 20 (PP).
A PELAGIC CORMORANT off Boiler Bay on 12/14 had already partially
developed the white flank patches of breeding plumage (PP). On 11/25, a
GREAT EGRET flew into roosting flock of 28 GREAT BLUE HERONS in Idaho
Flats high salt marsh, and another stalked and squawked around Eckman
Lake (KM).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.88 WATERFOWL
BRANT counts in Idaho Flats were 60 on 11/23 (TB, JSu), 117 on 11/25
(KM), and about 105 on 12/7 (JG). Off Boiler Bay, 6 BRANT flew south on
11/25, and 18 flew in both directions on 12/3 (PP).
1100 AMERICAN WIGEONS were in Idaho Flats and 130 in Sally's Bend on
11/25, and 650 were in Sally's Bend on 12/9 (KM). Among the Americans
were 2 EURASIAN WIGEONS on 11/25 (AC, KF) and 3 (2 adult and 1 immature
male) on 12/9 (KM). The landmark (or watermark) EURASIAN WIGEON in
Darrel Faxon's farm pond near Chitwood was the 200th species he's counted
on the farm 48 years after he began listing!
65 GADWALLS in Eckman Lake practiced early courtship behavior on
11/25 (KM). Off Boiler Bay, PP saw 5 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 2 MALLARDS, and
100 southward-flying NORTHERN PINTAILS on 11/25, and 40 AMERICAN WIGEONS
on 11/25 and 6 on 12/2. Although it may seem strange for puddle ducks to
frequent the open ocean, several species migrate along the coast or just
offshore; major migration routes of some, including pintails and
NORTHERN SHOVELERS, cross wide expanses of open ocean. Besides, the
Pacific Ocean is the world's largest puddle.
GREATER SCAUPS in Sally's Bend increased from 125 on 11/25 to over
200 on 12/9; 14 LESSER SCAUPS were in their usual haunt in Idaho Flats on
12/9 (KM). CANVASBACK numbers in Sally's Bend increased from 6 on 11/25
to 160 on 12/9 (KM). 5 REDHEADS were in the river channel at Sally's
Bend on 12/4 (EM), and 8 to 9 were in Sally's Bend on 11/25 and 12/9
(KM). Only 2 RING-NECKED DUCKS swam in Eckman Lake on 11/25 (KM).
SURF SCOTER numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 11/23, when over 1000
flew south; WHITE-WINGED SCOTER numbers there peaked on 11/25 at over
100, and BLACK SCOTER numbers were highest on 11/29, when over 400
(90% adult males) flew south (PP). 30 BLACK SCOTERS were off Moolack
Beach on 11/23 (TB, JSu) and 700 were off Yaquina Head on 11/25 (KM).
2 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, male and female, were at YBSJ on 11/23 (TB,
JSu), 1 male and 1 immature or female were there on 12/1 (WH), and 1 was
off Boiler Bay on 12/14 (PP). 2 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were off Boiler Bay on
11/29 and 1 on 12/2 (PP); 1 was at YBSJ on 12/9, and 2 were there on
12/16 (RC, WN).
1 BUFFLEHEAD was off Boiler Bay on 11/25 (PP), when about 150 joined
30 COMMON GOLDENEYES in Sally's Bend; Bufflehead numbers there increased
to several hundred by 12/9 (KM).
4 HOODED MERGANSERS were in Yaquina Bay on 11/17 (RC, WN, PR), 1 was
in Sally's Bend on 11/25, and a male and female were there on 12/9; 60
foraged in Eckman Lake on 11/25 (KM). Off Boiler Bay,
35 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS flew south on 11/25, and 2 were there on 12/3
(PP).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.89 RAPTORS
An OSPREY was still hovering over tidepools visible from J&ST's Seal
Rocks home as of 12/10.
1 WHITE-TAILED KITE haunted upper Alsea Bay on 11/23 (JS).
3 WHITE-TAILED KITES flew over the Yaquina Bay LNG tank on 12/4 (EM),
1 juvenile was outside JL's HMSC window on 12/8, through which the one
she saw in a tree on 12/12 prompted her to lament that Charlie Brown was
nowhere to be seen. Another hunted over HMSC on 12/17 (WN). RC, WN and
PR spotted a NORTHERN HARRIER at YBSJ on 11/17.
A BALD EAGLE sat on mud in Idaho Flats on 11/17 (RC, WN, PR), the
same day an immature visited the beach at Yachats (BB). An eagle was at
Idaho Flats on 11/23 (TB, JSu), an adult flew over Yaquina Bay on 12/3
(BT), and an adult flew west over Highway 101 at Wandemere Beach on 12/10
(BLo).
A COOPER'S HAWK visited Yaquina Head on 11/10 (BLM), and another
tried to catch DARK-EYED JUNCOS at RC's Wandemere feeder on 12/17. A
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK had been in RC's yard every day until 12/13, absent
thereafter perhaps due to the Cooper's. On 12/10, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK
flew over BLo's south Newport yard about 10 feet above ground, a flight
pattern he's observed before in hunting Sharp-shins. A
COOPER'S/SHARP-SHINNED HAWK visited D&BM's south Waldport yard on 11/27.
PEREGRINE FALCONS were noted at Yaquina Head on 5 days between 10/12
and 11/2 (BLM). A Peregrine sat on a snag over Beaver Creek Marsh 1.5
miles east of 101, 11/8 (SaL), and a juvenile created havoc by making two
northward passes through the southward gull stream off Lincoln City on
11/22 (PP). Another Peregrine sat on an Alsea Bay Bridge railpost on
12/5 (CD). AMERICAN KESTRELS frequented Yaquina Head from mid-October
through mid-November and sporadically thereafter (BLM). BT, a falconer,
reminds us that he exercises a PRAIRIE FALCON in our area.
A possible MERLIN visited Idaho Flats on 11/17 (RC, WN, PR).
Hunting for about 20 minutes from a treetop next to the OCA on Ferry Slip
Road on 12/4, a female MERLIN made several runs at groups of small birds,
returning to her lofty perch after each miss (BT). The two tall trees
across from Pegasus Chocolates are a real raptor magnet, reports BT, who
over the last four years has seen Peregrines, Bald Eagles, and Merlins
there several times and Cooper's Hawks in the nearby woods. On 11/25, a
female or immature MERLIN bobbed its head from a low perch in Idaho
Flats, flew to shallow water and actually waded up to its leg feathers,
and then charged 5 crows, which scattered only lazily (KM). As of 12/5,
two MERLINS took turns at least 3 times a week approaching J&ST's Seal
Rocks feeders fast and low like stealth bombers for a tasty meal.
Another MERLIN female posed for study at SaL's Yachats feeder on 12/9.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.90 QUAIL - SKUAS
Up to 4 MOUNTAIN QUAIL fed under BB's Yachats feeder on 11/11 and
even later.
1 VIRGINIA RAIL called from freshwater marsh east of Spencer House
along Idaho Point Road on 11/23 (TB, JSu). 5 AMERICAN COOTS swam in
Eckman Lake on 11/25 (KM), but none have been reported from the Sally's
Bend/Coquille Point area. Numbers at Coquille Point have peaked at up to
370, and numbers in the total embayments have reached nearly 600. I (KM)
am really worried about these coots.
4 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS were in Idaho Flats on 11/23 (TB, JSu).
EM counted 18 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS at the Depoe Bay seawall on 12/4
[this was originally, mistakenly printed as being in Yaquina Bay].
7 GREATER YELLOWLEGS remained in Eckman Slough on 11/23 (JS).
3 ROCK SANDPIPERS joined 3 SANDERLINGS, 15 BLACK TURNSTONES and
15 SURFBIRDS at YBSJ on 11/23 (TB, JSu). Another ROCK SANDPIPER was at
YBSJ on 11/25 (AC, KF), and another was in Yaquina Bay on 12/4 (EM).
20 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were in Eckman Slough on 11/23 (JS).
A SOUTH POLAR SKUA flew past Boiler Bay on 12/1 (PP).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.91 GULLS
Off Otter Crest on 11/22, AS watched about 4500 gulls/hour (peaking
at up to 180/minute) fly south on wind currents at 400 to 700 feet; most
were adult CALIFORNIA GULLS, but some MEW GULLS and GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS
joined them, about 150 adult BONAPARTE'S GULLS/hour flew south below them
low over the water, and hundreds of BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES flew low and
close to shore.
Off D River on the morning of 11/22, PP watched 20-50 mostly
Californias/minute stream south over the beach; in the afternoon off
Spanish Head in Lincoln City, 300-400 mostly Californias/minute with some
dense clumps of over 800/min passed almost directly overhead before a
dramatic squall, continuing for about 40 minutes before gaps appeared in
the stream. As the squall moved northwest, big "chunks" of birds either
drifted or directly flew westward. Scattered Glaucous-wingeds, Herrings,
Thayer's, Westerns, and Bonaparte's joined the Californias. PP saw at
least 20,000 Californias on 11/22, and if they passed non-stop between
observations, the total that passed Lincoln County could easily have been
over 40,000 (PP), over 14% of the national and 10% of the total
California Gull population.
During a lull in rain and wind during the 11/28 storm, 1900
CALIFORNIA GULLS rested on land and water at YBSJ along with about 100
more comprising Herrings, Westerns, Glaucous-wingeds, and various
hybrids; the Great Basin California subspecies outnumbered the Great
Plains subspecies by at least 10 to 1 (WH). Virtually all of over 4000
Californias at YBSJ on 12/1 were adults (WH).
1 BONAPARTE'S GULL worked Yaquina Bay estuary on 11/25 (AC, KF), 1
visited the D River parking lot on 12/1 (PP), and 2 winter adults swam in
Idaho Flats on 12/9 (KM). Off Boiler Bay, 12 southward-flying
Bonaparte's on 11/23 dwindled to the last one on 11/29 (PP).
HEERMANN'S GULLS decreased from 5 on 11/23 to the last one also on 11/29;
1 adult with an injured leg was in the D River parking lot on 12/1 (PP).
Western numbers off Boiler Bay peaked at over 200 on 12/3, Glaucous-
winged at over 400 on 11/25, Herring at over 80 on 11/23, California on
11/23 at 2500, and Mew on 11/25 at over 1200; all but Westerns flew south
(PP). A 2nd winter GLAUCOUS GULL visited the D River parking lot on 12/1
(PP). A possible Glaucous at YBSJ on 12/16 turned out to be an Unknown
Light Gull, perhaps a partial albino or leucistic form (RC). A possible
ICELAND GULL joined 30 other large gulls at YBSJ rainwater pools on 12/6
(WH).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.92 ALCIDS - KINGFISHERS
3 COMMON MURRES and 1 CASSIN'S AUKLET were found dead along 4.6
miles of beach near Thiel Creek by B&SLo & LO in their November
systematic beached bird walks. Off Boiler Bay on 11/23, TB and JSu
counted 30 COMMON MURRES, 6 PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, 10 MARBLED MURRELETS, 2
ANCIENT MURRELETS, and 2 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS. WH noted about 50 Ancients
and at least 12 Marbleds there on 11/24. In PP's Boiler Bay seawatches,
COMMON MURRE numbers peaked on 11/25, when over 1000 flew south; several
of the 500 there on 12/2 were in breeding plumage (PP). PIGEON GUILLEMOT
numbers there peaked at 8 on 11/25, MARBLED MURRELET numbers peaked at 25
on 12/2, and ANCIENT MURRELET numbers peaked at over 20 on 11/25.
A BAND-TAILED PIGEON visited D&BM's south Waldport feeder once or
twice each day from 12/12 through 12/14. They've seen them in adjacent
trees but never at the feeders before; D&BM hope this one was able to
join other band-taileds to go wherever they go for the winter.
A possible PYGMY OWL visited Yaquina Head on 10/29 (MN). A possible
CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW flew across the street in front of WH's car in Nye
Beach, Newport on 11/27.
3 ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS remained at RC's Wandemere feeder through
12/17, and another remained through 12/15 at D&BM's south Waldport
feeder.
A BELTED KINGFISHER has decided that the Waldport sea wall where
HWY 101 dips lowest before climbing the hill south of town is a perfect
hunting perch; it has learned that passing cars pose no threat (D&BM,
CD).
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.93 WOODPECKERS - THRUSHES
A PILEATED WOODPECKER visited BL in his south Newport yard on 11/30;
this is the first in his yard, but several, including HY, have frequented
the area. Another PILEATED WOODPECKER has been knocking on a nearby
spruce as well as J&ST's Seal Rocks house as of 12/10. A yellow-shafted
intergrade NORTHERN FLICKER reported several weeks ago continues in the
neighborhood and shows up in RC & WN'S Wandemere yard every few days. On
12/4, it was joined by another intergrade male resembling a typical
yellow-shafted bird except for red wing and tail linings. To add to the
complexity, a typical red-shafted female was there at the same time. The
yellow-shafted visited again on 12/17.
A SAY'S PHOEBE was at Yaquina Head from 10/31-11/8 (MN).
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES were riding J&ST's Seal Rocks feeders back up
to their regular height after replenishing as of 12/10. BUSHTIT flocks
remain active and visible: JG noted 30 in Sandpiper Shores on 11/23 and
20 along Idaho Flats nature trail on 12/7. On 11/25, winter resident
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS joined permanent resident GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS
in shore pines in SaL's Yachats yard.
The first VARIED THRUSH at BB's Yachats feeder arrived on 11/7; a
lone male arrived at SaL's Yachats yard on about 11/20. VARIED THRUSHES
thrashed around P&BW's Tidewater yard as of 12/8, and BW had a rare
glimpse of a HERMIT THRUSH there on 12/8.
* * * * * * * * * * *
01.94 MIMIC THRUSHES - SISKINS
A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD appeared just off road in Sandpiper Shores on
11/23, perhaps, suspects JG, blown off course by the storm.
An AMERICAN PIPIT visited Yaquina Head on 10/3-4 (BLM). A late
YELLOW WARBLER flitted among salal at Moolack Beach on 11/23 (TB, JSu).
The first TOWNSEND'S WARBLER arrived in BB's Yachats yard on 11/18.
CP had a Zonotrichia Grand Slam in Toledo: 1 HARRIS' SPARROW,
1 WHITE-THROATED SPARROW joined WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS and GOLDEN-CROWNED
SPARROWS at his Toledo feeder on 11/29.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW visited D&BM's south Waldport feeder from
11/19-25; one visited last year, too, in late November through early
December.
A WESTERN MEADOWLARK was at Yaquina Head on at least 5 days from
10/5 through 10/18.
PINE SISKINS first arrived in BB's Yachats yard on 11/13; flocks of
siskins at J&ST's Seal Rocks feeders as of 12/5 started the winter
well - chipper and lively, in contrast to those of last year.
OBSERVERS: Betty Bahn, Tanya Bray, BLM (Bureau of Land Management
staff at Yaquina Head), Rebecca Cheek, Alan Contreras, Carol DeLancey,
Karl Fairchild, Jill Grover, Wayne Hoffman, Janet Lamberson,
Sally Lockyear (SaL), Bob & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Ed McVicker,
Kathy Merrifield, Walt Nelson, Laimons Osis, Chuck Philo, Phil Pickering,
Paul Reed, Alan Schmierer, Jamie Simmons, John Sullivan (JSu),
Bryant Tarr, Jim and Shirley Thielen.
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