Menu of June-December 2002 (Bird Field Notes
by Kathy Merrifield from the Sandpiper (a publication
of Yaquina Birders & Naturalists, Lincoln County, Oregon)
Comments about abundance or seasonality refer only to LINCOLN COUNTY.
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Month of
Sandpiper, Volume 23
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June-August 2002
September 2002
October 2002
November 2002
December 2002
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May 21-August 20 BIRD FIELD NOTES from the August 2002 Sandpiper 23(6)
by Kathy Merrifield
Abbreviations, explanations, and site locations and some Lincoln Co.
site locations: Bayshore Beach=ocean beach along north Alsea Bay Spit,
Beaver Creek=creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park, Beaver Creek
Marsh=marsh just east of Hwy 101 opposite Ona Beach managed by Wetlands
Conservancy, Big Creek, - Reservoir, and -Marsh (= Newport Reservoir):
1 mi N of central Newport along 101; Bird Guide web site, Coquille Point=SE
Corner of Sally's Bend, Driftwood Beach SP=park about halfway between
Seal Rocks and Waldport, Eckman Lake=lake 2 mi east of Waldport along
Hwy 34, Eckman Slough=slough between Alsea Bay and Eckman Lake,
fide=reported to, HMSC=Hatfield Marine Science Center, HY=hatch-year
(bird that hatched in 2002), Idaho Flats=large embayment just east of
HMSC, Idaho Slough=freshwater slough south of Idaho Point Road at the SW
corner of Idaho Flats, imm=immature, JMCP=Jack Morgan County Park:
Highway 229, Lost Creek SP=part about 4.75 mi south of Yaquina Bay
bridge, mi=mile(s), N=north, OBOL=Oregon Birders On Line, Ona Beach=state park about
6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along Hwy 101 at Beaver Creek,
S=south, S14&15=sections east of Rocky Pt. in NE Lincoln Co. at
elevations up to 3,300 feet in T7S, R9W, Sallys Bend=large embayment east
of the LNG tank at Yaquina Bay, Thiel Creek=creek about 3.5 mi south of
Yaquina Bay bridge, Thornton Creek=creek between Toledo and Eddyville,
Three Rocks Rd/Savage Rd jct: 3 Rocks Rd turns west from Hwy 101 1 mi N
of Hwy 18 jct; to 2 mi to Savage Rd; Tidewater=about 8 mi east of
Waldport, UW=University of Washington, Wandemere=about 0.5 mi north of
Ona Beach along Hwy 101, YBNFJ=Yaquina Birders and Naturalists Field
Trip, YBSJ=Yaquina Bay South Jetty.
* * * * * * * * * * *
LOONS - HERONS
PP seawatched from Boiler Bay an average of 1.43 hours on 19 days;
RED-THROATED LOON numbers there peaked at 8 on 7/1, PACIFIC LOON numbers
on 6/14, when over 600 mostly imms flew N, and COMMON LOON numbers on
6/1, when over 30 imms flew N. JS spotted a Red-throated there on 5/25.
A RED-NECKED GREBE flew south off Boiler Bay on 7/31 (PP). RC & WN
spotted 6 WESTERN GREBES off Wandemere on 7/5.
2 SOOTY SHEARWATERS and 1 FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL were found dead
along 4.6 mi of beach near Thiel Creek in May, 1 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS,
1 FULMAR, and 3 SOOTY SHEARWATERS were found in June, and 2 SOOTY
SHEARWATERS were found in July (SB, B&SLo, LO). BGPT observed 3 LAYSAN
ALBATROSSES, 80 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES, and 900 SOOTY SHEARWATERS off
Newport on 5/21. 20,000 SOOTY SHEARWATERS flew N off Boiler Bay on 6/11
(PP); hundreds streamed north off Spanish Head (PP) and Wandemere on 6/27
and south off Wandemere on 7/5, the same evening over 10,000 gathered off
LCSP (RC&WN) and the day before hundreds streamed off Seal Rock (JG) and
rafted off Newport (BGPT); 20,000 flew N off Spanish Head on 6/11 (PP).
4 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS flew S off Boiler Bay on 6/29 followed by 3 on
7/8 (PP), and up to 15 joined 1000 Sooties working baitfish shoals off
Boiler Bay on 8/4 (DT). A MANX/BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER flying N with
1000 Sooties was too far off Boiler Bay to identify (PP). BGPT saw 1
FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL off Newport on 5/21, PP saw 1 off Boiler Bay on
7/8, and DT saw one off Depoe Bay on 8/4.
30 BROWN PELICANS flew N off Wandemere on 6/27 (RC&WN), 439 flew N
off Spanish Head on 7/18 (PP), 15 visited YBSJ on 8/16 (D&AH), LO counted
41 on rocks off Seal Rock on 8/2, and at least 28 northbound near shore
there on 8/13 suggested many more flying far offshore in heat shimmer
(LO). Over 1000 BRANDT'S CORMORANTS flew N off Boiler Bay on 8/21 (PP).
2 GREAT EGRETS were at Idaho Point on 7/18 (J& LM), and numbers in
Idaho Flats increased from to 31 on 8/14 (RL); and numbers in the Yachats
River mouth decreased from 29 on 7/31 to 12 on 8/1 (BB). A SNOWY EGRET
visited Idaho Flats on 5/23 (RL) and 5/26 (DF); RL spotted another at
Eckman Slough on 7/28. A GREEN HERON was near the East Log Pond outlet
on 6/21 (RB), 2 were in upper Yaquina Bay on 7/8 (NE), and 1 was in Idaho
Flats on 7/18 (RB) and 8/16 (D&AH).
* * * * * * * * * * *
WATERFOWL
A BRANT swam inside the rocks at Seal Rock on 7/6 (JG) and 7/12
(KM). A flock of Western CANADA GEESE flew north over Beaver Creek on
6/7, probably the latest recorded (RL).
A brood of tiny HY WOOD DUCKS swam in Eckman Lake on 5/23, the
earliest brood RL has seen there; MALLARD broods appeared there as of
5/30 (KM). 7 eclipse male NORTHERN SHOVELERS flocked in Sally's Bend
on 8/18 (KM).
Seal Rock hosted 3 HARLEQUIN DUCKS on 6/16 (DF), 5 on 7/27, and 3 on
8/18 (KM). 2 male BLACK SCOTERS dove off LCSP on 6/15 (KM), and one flew
off Boiler Bay on 6/22 (DP). SURF SCOTER numbers peaked off Spanish Head
at 400 on 6/2 and 300 on 7/11 (PP). The summer scoter aggregation off
Wandemere began as of 6/19 with at least 100 mostly SURF SCOTERS with a
few Blacks and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, and small flocks flew north there
alone on 6/27 and with shearwaters on 7/5 (RC&WN). WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
numbers peaked off Boiler Bay at 400 on 7/8. Over 100 Surfs and 20
White-wingeds were off Seal Rock on 7/27 (TB), all three species were
close to shore there on 8/2 (LO), and Surfs had increased to 380 by 8/18
(KM). 100 Surfs swam at YBSJ on 8/16 (D&AH). An imm or molting male
swam south off Boiler Bay on 6/14 (PP).
1 female BUFFLEHEAD remained in Eckman Lake on 5/30, and 2 males had
arrived at YBSJ by 8/18 (KM). JS observed a female COMMON MERGANSER with
8 ducklings on the Salmon River near Otis on 5/26. 90 Commons flocked in
lower Alsea Bay on 8/12 (DF); broods coalesce upstream during the summer,
drift downstream, and flock in lower bays from late summer through fall.
* * * * * * * * * * *
DIURNAL RAPTORS
Single OSPREYS flew S over Seal Rock and Idaho Flats on 5/25 (SJ)
and 5/30 (KM) and Big Creek Reservoir on 6/11 (RC&WN), and caught and
lugged off a good-sized fish off Wandemere on 6/15 (RC); 2 flew over
Idaho Flats on 6/21 (RB), and one altercated with a BALD EAGLE off
Wandemere on 7/5 (RC&WN). On 7/2, U&EO watched an OSPREY build a nest on
a Central Lincoln PUD pole near Guin House in South Beach; on 7/4,
2 OSPREYS perched at night in a dead tree near this incomplete nest.
1 WHITE-TAILED KITE slightly flushed the Idaho Flats gull flock on 5/30
(KM), 1 flew over Logsden on 6/9 (BL), and 1 was 2 mi up the Yachats
River on 8/1 (fide BB). A male NORTHERN HARRIER flew over Wandemere on
6/13 (RC&WN), and another flew near the HMSC Nature Trail on 6/21 (RB).
Two AMERICAN CROWS harassed an imm BALD EAGLE over downtown Toledo
on 5/27 (SK), and on 6/14, another imm perched on a dead cedar right in
D&BM's Waldport yard, enduring harassment by two crows and a COMMON
RAVEN. An adult BALD EAGLE at Logsden on 6/25 was unusual there (BL),
and on 8/13, and adult perched in a snag at Ona Beach SP (LO).
At his Eckman Lake home on 6/6, after hearing a big thump on the
window, RL found a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK in the final stages of dying,
picked it up and warmed it in his hands and then placed it on a branch,
where it stayed for an hour regaining its balance. "It was great
handling this bird and knowing that it still has a chance to live on,"
wrote RL. In Wandemere on 6/12, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK came bombing over
the N hedgerow; the BARN SWALLOWS rallied to the attack and drove the
Sharpie out of the area (RC). A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK circling above Idaho
Flats on 7/29 may have been migrating (RL); LO saw another Sharp-shinned
at his Beaver Creek home on 8/14. On 8/11, DF spotted a
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK on the powerline along Hwy 20 3.2 mi E of the 101
junction in Newport.
* * * * * * * * * * *
GROUSE - QUAIL
Hooting BLUE GROUSE greeted RC, WN, and CP at the top of Grass Mt.
on 6/1. SaL enjoyed her 6/12 sighting of a territorial female RUFFED
GROUSE near Cape Perpetua.
On 7/31 at Surfland, LO picked up a white-plumaged WILLOW PTARMIGAN!
Now THAT'S a first for the Beached Bird Survey! [RB adds that LO
found the wings, head, beak, and breast of the bird in its white, winter
phase; the rear end and feet were missing. The identity was confirmed by
Roy Lowe and Dawn Harris Grafe of the USFWS and Bob Loeffel. This
species would be a first for Oregon, but this bird was probably brought
here by people or escaped from an aviary, so its origin is uncertain.]
A pair of mountain quail visited CD's Beverly Beach yard every
morning as of 5/27. An unwary male BOBWHITE paced the road between
Harlan and Klickitat Lake on 6/1 (RC, WN, CP). DP, KH enjoyed great
views of a VIRGINIA RAIL in Beaver Creek Marsh on 6/22.
* * * * * * * * * * *
SHOREBIRDS
Two BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS joined WHIMBRELS in Idaho Flats on 6/22
(DP). Laimons Osis saw 20 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS near Thiel Creek on
July 28.
DF saw a BLACK OYSTERCATCHER attack an OSPREY at Seal Rock three
times in succession on 6/16. BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS were at Seal Rock on
7/6 and south of Waldport on 7/21-22 (JG), Seal Rock on 7/27 (TB) and
8/13 (LO), and Depoe Bay on 8/4 (DT). WHIMBRELS in Idaho Flats numbered
1 on 5/25 (SJ), 49 on 5/26 (JS), 67 on 5/30 (KM), 52 on 6/9 (DF), and 7
on 8/16 (D&AH). Usually joining them were 9 MARBLED GODWITS on 5/30
(KM), 6 on 6/9 (JS, JA), 1 on 6/22 (DP, KH), and 6 on 7/19 (DF).
4 MARBLED GODWITS joined over 50 WHIMBRELS south of Waldport on 7/21-22
(JG).
1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS visited Idaho Flats on 6/9 (JA&JS), and 14
visited Alsea Estuary on 7/20 (JG). Single WANDERING TATTLERS appeared
at Yaquina Head on 5/20 (BLM) and 7/22 (DR & RB), Seal Rock on 7/27 (TB),
and YBSJ on 8/16 (D&AH). On 7/27, TB spotted a still-downy
SPOTTED SANDPIPER at JMCP, and BL spotted an adult along the Siletz River
near Logsden. 12 RUDDY TURNSTONES visited Seal Rock on 7/27, where
BLACK TURNSTONES had returned from breeding (TB); at least 8 were at
Depoe Bay on 8/4 (DT).
4 WESTERN SANDPIPERS peeped in Idaho Flats on 6/22 (DP, KH), over
90 picked through rock-dwelling seaweed at Seal Rock on 7/6 (JG), several
hundred swarmed in upper Yaquina Bay on 7/8 (NE), and 130 flocked in
Idaho Flats on 8/18 (KM). On 7/21, JG saw a few LEAST SANDPIPERS south
of Waldport as well as a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER among SANDERLINGS there.
Another Semipalmated visited Idaho Flats on 6/22 (DP, KH). SANDERLINGS
in juvenal and late breeding plumage were south of Waldport on 7/21-22
(JG), and 6 in late breeding plumage were at Bayshore Beach on 8/18 (KM).
SURFBIRDS were south of Waldport on 7/21-22 (JG), 230 were at Seal Rock
on 7/27 (TB), and 5 were at YBSJ on 8/16 along with a PECTORAL SANDPIPER
(D&AH).
A SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER called in Idaho Flats on 5/30 (KM), and a
dowitcher sp. probed Idaho Flats on 7/22 (JG). BGPT saw 20
RED-NECKED PHALAROPES on 7/6, and 5 male and juvenile Red-neckeds joined
small sandpipers on 7/21-22 south of Waldport (JG).
* * * * * * * * * * *
JAEGERS - TERNS
Up to 5 PARASITIC JAEGERS flew off Newport on 5/21 (BGPT). A jaeger
sp. chased gulls at Seal Rock on 7/6 (JG). One light phase POMARINE
JAEGER flew N 2 mi off Depoe Bay on 8/4 (DT).
2 FRANKLIN'S GULLS joined the Idaho Flats flock on 5/25 (SJ) and 6/9
(JS, JA); an adult flew past Boiler Bay on 6/7 (PP). BONAPARTE'S GULLS
were in the same flock on 5/25 (SJ), and 2 1st summer were there on 6/15
(KM). HEERMANN'S GULL numbers off Boiler Bay peaked at 800 flying north
on both 7/16 and 8/8 and off Spanish Head on 7/15, when over 2500 flew N
(PP). RC watched 200 Heermann's/45 min fly north over the Wandemere sand
on 6/27. A few were also at Seal Rock on 7/27 (TB) and off Depoe Bay on
8/4 (DT). WESTERN GULL numbers peaked at over 1500 off Spanish Head on
7/15; Westerns were ready to fledge at Seal Rock on 8/2 (LO). A
hyperboreus-size GLAUCOUS GULL visited D River on 5/23 (PP). 1 1st year
HERRING GULL remained in Idaho Flats on 5/30 (KM). PP saw a bright
pink-legged 2nd summer THAYER'S GULL at D River on 6/2 and single 1st
summer Thayer's on 6/3 and 6/17. CALIFORNIA GULL numbers off Boiler Bay
peaked on 6/7, when over 2500 flew N. 10 Californias flocked in Idaho
Flats on 5/30, 415 on 6/15, and 1200 on 7/12 (KM). RB noted the big
summer influx of non-breeders on 7/18, and KM speculates that these were
mostly Californias. In Alsea Bay, 240 mostly 1st summer RING-BILLEDS
flew downstream at Waldport's E city limit on 5/30, the same day 145 of
all ages except adult landed in Idaho Flats (KM). 24 Ring-billeds were
there on 5/27 (SJ) as were others on 5/26 (JS), and 40 adults were there
on 8/18, when 1 adult and 1 1st summer MEW GULLS joined the Ring-billeds
(KM). 200 SABINE'S GULLS flew off Newport on 5/21 (BGPT).
20 nonbreeding summering CASPIAN TERNS rested in Idaho Flats on 6/21
(RB), 45 flew north over the Spanish Head beach on 6/27 (PP), small
groups joined other northward fliers off Wandemere on 6/27 (RC&WN), and a
few flew N over Seal Rock on 7/6 (JG).
* * * * * * * * * * *
ALCIDS
1 murre was found dead along 4.6 mi of beach near Thiel Creek on
May, 5 adult murres were found in June, and 4 adults and 4 chicks were
found in July (SB,, B&SLo, LO). COMMON MURRES off Wandemere on 7/5 flew
S (RC&WN), and thousands attended the Yaquina Head breeding colony on 7/6
(BGPT). On 7/10, CF of UW wrote, "Over 50% of the Common Murre chicks at
Yaquina Head were fledged as of 7/19, and it looks like reproductive
success will be over 90% this year.... Hundreds of singles and pairs
with recently fledged young were on the water off Depoe Bay on 8/4 as
strings of several hundred more flew north (DT), and numerous indulgent
adult/begging chick pairs were off Seal Rock on 8/2 (LO) and at YBSJ on
8/16 (D&AH).
On 6/13 near the Driftwood Beach PIGEON GUILLEMOT nesting site, MN
found a guillemot that had apparently been attacked by a bird of prey.
70 guillemots flew N with murres on 6/21 off Boiler Bay (PP), BGPT
counted 35 on 7/6, over 20 roosted on the Depoe Bay bridge and rocks on
8/4 (DT), and D&AH counted 20 at YBSJ on 8/16.
SS has observed even fewer MARBLED MURRELETS flying to their forest
nests this year than the few she observed last summer. They have
dwindled remarkably during her 20 years of observations from her Neskowin
(Tillamook County) home on the edge of Siuslaw National Forest,
coinciding with extensive logging in her area. DP, KH counted at least
75 MARBLED MURRELETS off Yachats on 6/22, PP counted at least 70 off
Spanish Head on 6/27, and BGPT counted at least 20 off Newport on 7/6.
BGPT spotted 1 CASSIN'S AUKLET off Newport on 7/6.
RHINOCEROS AUKLET numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 6/21, when 250
flew N (PP); 45 flew N off Wandemere on 6/27 (RC&WN), 3 were off Depoe
Bay on 8/4 (DT), and 21 were off Newport on 7/6 (BGPT). DP, KH counted
at least 6 TUFTED PUFFINS off Boiler Bay on 6/22, another flew figure
eights at Yaquina Head on June 23 (NH), and DT saw another fly south off
Depoe Bay on 8/4.
* * * * * * * * * * *
PIGEONS - KINGFISHERS
A few BAND-TAILED PIGEONS visited D&BM's Waldport yard on 4 days
from 5/24 - 6/8; they were declining at RC's Wandemere feeder as of 6/10,
the day 4 appeared at DHG's Toledo feeders this year. I guess we know
where those Wandemere pigeons went. A MOURNING DOVE visited RC in
Wandemere on 5/31; another dropped by DHG's in Toledo the week of 6/10,
and one was back at RC's on 6/16, when over 20 "piggy Band-taileds"
appear daily for breakfast.
Sharp-eared JS heard a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL near Cougar Mt. on 5/26.
A vocal WESTERN SCREECH-OWL pair called for three nights - a repeated,
soft, tremulous "whhhyyy?" - to DF's family reunion campout at Thornton
Creek, acting as if humans had usurped their domain. From 7/3 through
late Aug, LO has heard the "who-cooks-for-you?" of BARRED OWLS near his
Beaver Creek yard.
A COMMON NIGHTHAWK flew over Eckman Lake on 5/29 (RL); RC&WN heard
and saw 1 over Wandemere on 6/12 and 6/15.
A BLACK SWIFT flew above Cascade Head on 5/30 (PP), 3 flew over
Newport on 6/11 (MN), and 3 flew and called over Wandemere treetops on
6/14 (RC&WN). VAUX'S SWIFTS were flying over Newport and Waldport from
5/25-27 (JS).
Hummingbirds left SS's Neskowin yard in a snit during SS's vacation
returned in early June to drink 64 ounces of juice/day.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS foraged at DHG's HMSC feeder the week of 6/10, on the
RC&WN's Wandemere patio on 6/8, and in D&BM's Waldport yard occasionally
through July. ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS were regular at D&BM's Waldport
feeders through 6/10, and a male Anna's appeared near Paul and Pat Reed's
Newport home on 7/3.
A BELTED KINGFISHER visited D&BM'S Waldport yard on 6/30, flying and
calling next to DM all the way across the yard until disappearing into
the woods across the street.
* * * * * * * * * * *
WOODPECKERS - SWALLOWS
PILEATED WOODPECKERS nested north of Newport; HY had fledged as of
6/9 (PS, RC, WN). A Pileated flew over LO's Beaver Creek yard on 8/6.
A HAIRY WOODPECKER family worked on trees near DHG's Toledo yard during
the week of 6/10. NORTHERN FLICKERS remained in D&BM's Waldport yard
through 6/26; a female in J&KC's yard 4 mi east of Waldport lacked tail
feathers as of 6/27. JS observed a DOWNY WOODPECKER in a Waldport area
marsh on 5/25.
JS heard a HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER at several locations near Cougar Mt.
on 5/26. SaL&KH heard an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER in the Gwynn Creek
drainage on 6/12. A WESTERN KINGBIRD camped at Yaquina Head on 5/9-10
(BLM); another was along the Idaho Flats nature trail on 6/17 (SK) and
6/19 (MB).
JS saw 3 GRAY JAYS near Cougar Mt. on 5/26; 6 accompanied KH & SaL
along the Captain Cook Ridge Trail (Cape Perpetua) on 6/4; on 6/19, 4
visited SS's Neskowin yard. A COMMON RAVEN was also near Cougar Mt. on
5/26 (JS). AMERICAN CROWS near Steve Kupillas' HMSC office brooded a
clutch of crowlets as of 6/11. At Yaquina Head on 7/22, DR & RB saw a HY
crow with so much white in its wings that it looked like a magpie along
with 1 totally black sibling and adult.
BARN SWALLOWS in Wandemere continued nest construction through 6/2;
the 1st egg appeared on 6/3, incubation continued through at least 6/19,
and by 7/11, the HY were exercising their wings and peering over the edge
(RC). At least 2 CLIFF SWALLOWS swooped over Eckman Lake on 5/30 (KM),
and on 8/13, many were congregating at Ona Beach SP (LO). TREE SWALLOWS
nested at HMSC as of 6/10 (DHG); one in Logsden fledged on 6/15 (BL). On
8/16, TREE SWALLOWS abandoned a nest 4 mi east of Waldport, leaving one
dead and one live HY (J&KC). VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS nested in DHG's
Toledo yard as of about 6/10. Some but not all Violet-greens in a
Wandemere nest had fledged on 7/10 (RC). At least 2 NORTHERN
ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS flew over Eckman Lake on 5/30 (KM). PURPLE MARTINS
were alive and well at Idaho Flats on 5/27 (SJ).
* * * * * * * * * * *
CHICKADEES - WARBLERS
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES nested in DHG's Toledo yard as of about
6/10; they continued in D&BM's Waldport yard through 7/3. Mixed flocks
formed in Wandemere by 8/5: a vanguard gang of 30 BUSHTITS worked in the
lower brush, followed by 10 Chestnut-backed and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES,
many behaving like juveniles, flitting about in the lower tree branches,
and about 8 WILSON'S WARBLERS and 1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER brought up the
rear. Chestnut-backeds flocked with WILSON'S WARBLERS and one
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER on 8/6 along Beaver Creek (LO).
An AMERICAN DIPPER dipped in Schooner Creek on 5/26 (JS), and
another and a SPOTTED SANDPIPER dipped together along the Siletz River
near Logsden on 6/11 (Bob Llewellyn).
SWAINSON'S THRUSHES began singing in Seal Rock on 5/24 (James and
Shirley Thielen) and in Wandemere on 5/25 (RC). Fewer SWAINSON'S
THRUSHES have been evident around SS's Neskowin home this summer than
last. Singing HERMIT THRUSHES greeted RC, WN, and CP at the top of Grass
Mt. on 6/1. AMERICAN ROBINS nested on DHG Toledo property as of 6/10.
JS heard VARIED THRUSHES near Cougar Mt. on 5/26.
DPi saw a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD along the HMSC trail outside his HMSC
office window on 7/18, and RB and his YBNFT companions' quest for it on
7/19 was successful.
CEDAR WAXWINGS visited Yaquina Head on 5/19 (BLM) and D&BM's
Waldport yard on 5/22. On 7/4, another inspected the status of mountain
ash berries on SS's Neskowin tree, and others were on wires at Eckman
Lake by 7/12 (KM).
HERMIT WARBLERS reached the Cougar Mt. area on 5/26 (JS) and
Tidewater on 5/27 (P&BW). YELLOW WARBLERS reached Idaho Flats by 5/27
(SJ), and many sang at D River on 5/29 with Audubon's YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLERS; several Yellows dropped out of the fog there on 5/30 along with
a migrant orestera ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (PP). SJ detected a COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT at Idaho Flats on 5/27. A wave of WILSON'S WARBLERS moved
through WH's South Beach yard on 8/4. An OVENBIRD sang in South Beach on
5/25-26 (Eric Horvath), and another visited the D River on 5/27 (PP).
MCGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS visited D River on 5/24 and 5/29 (PP).
YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS visited the Three Rocks/Savage Rds. junction on
5/24 (PP) and 5/26 (JS) and D River on 5/27 (PP). Additional warblers
are mentioned above with chickadees.
* * * * * * * * * * *
TANAGERS - HOUSE SPARROWS
WESTERN TANAGERS appeared at Idaho Flats on 5/27 (SJ), Tidewater on
5/28 (P&BW), singing in Cascade Head fog on 5/30 (PP), Klickitat Lake on
6/1 (RC, WN, CP), and Toledo the week of 6/10 (DHG). Others fed
fledglings in Nancy Reid's yard between Newport and Toledo on 6/28, and
still others visited LO's Beaver Creek home on 8/11.
SAVANNAH SPARROWS nested as of 6/29 in Siletz (BL). 2 WHITE-CROWNED
SPARROW pairs nested on DHG's Toledo property the week of 6/10 and ate
mealworms morning and evening. White-crowneds remained in D&BM's
Waldport yard through 7/5, and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS remained there
through 6/20.
DARK-EYED JUNCO adults with young appeared in Toledo the week of
6/10 (DHG). On 6/8, RC&WN's Wandemere macho male DARK-EYED JUNCO again
began hurling himself at his window reflection while the female built a
tidy, dog-hair-lined nest in a hanging fuchsia. After 14-16 days of
incubating 4 eggs, the nest failed, but after a second attempt in another
fuchsia, four junclets left the nest on 7/9 to hide in a secret spot
until they learned to fly.
A male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK feasted at BB's Yachats neighbor's
feeder on 6/10; another visited WH's South Beach feeders on 6/23.
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS nested as of 6/10 on DHG's Toledo property, and as
of 6/29, BL saw more Black-headeds than usual at his Logsden home.
A WESTERN MEADOWLARK visited a Logsden field on 6/5 (BL). A male
Lesser Goldfinch sang from a Lincoln City pine on 7/5 (PP).
JS spotted EVENING GROSBEAKS near Cougar Mt. on 5/26, and KH & SaL
observed a banded female on 6/13 at a Yachats feeders.
A female HOUSE SPARROW fed young near LL's Waldport home, and a pair
carried a feather for nesting material.
OBSERVERS: Jim Anderson, Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Bird Guide (BG), Bird
Guide Pelagic Trip (BGPT), Matthew Bracken, Tanya Bray, Sara Brown,
Rebecca Cheek, Jorrie & Ken Ciotti, Carol DeLancey, Norm Edelen, Darrel
Faxon, Colin French, Joel Geier, Dawn Harris Grafe, Nemesia Herzstein,
Wayne Hoffman, Ken Hollinga, Karen Houston, Dan & Anne Hyerly, Scott
Johnson, Steve Kupillas, Lola Landis, Bob Llewellyn, Sally Lockyear
(SaL), B&SLo, Roy Lowe, John & Linda MacKown, Dawson & Bobbie Mohler,
Walt Nelson, Michael Noack, Umur & Ebru Onal, Laimons Osis, Dianne Petty,
Dave Pitkin (DPi), Kathy Merrifield, Dale Reiger, Jamie Simmons, James and
Shirley Thielen, Dave Tracy, Pat & Bunny Wright.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BIRD FIELD NOTES from the September 2002 Sandpiper 23(7)
by Kathy Merrifield
The Sandpiper is a publication of Yaquina Birders & Naturalists.
Abbreviations and some Lincoln Co. site locations: Agate Beach
Wayside=state park immediately south of Yaquina Head; Beaver Creek=creek
flowing through Ona Beach State Park, Bird Guide Pelagic Trip (BGPT) web site for information about trips, BLM=Bureau
of Land Management, Driftwood Beach SP=park about halfway between Seal
Rocks and Waldport, Fowler Oyster Company, mp 7.8 on Yaquina Bay Road,
Fox Creek=2 mi S of Seal Rock SP on U. S. 101, HMSC=Hatfield Marine
Science Center, Idaho Flats=large embayment just east of HMSC, Lost Creek
SP=part about 4.75 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge, OBOL=Oregon Birders On
Line, OCA=Oregon Coast
Aquarium, Ona Beach=state park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge
along Hwy 101 at Beaver Creek, Sallys Bend=large embayment east of the
LNG tank at Yaquina Bay, Smelt Sands=SP along coast 1 mi N of downtown
Yachats, Thiel Creek=creek about 3.5 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge,
Tidewater=about 8 mi east of Waldport, Wandemere=about 0.5 mi north of
Ona Beach along Hwy 101, YBNJ=Yaquina Bay North Jetty, Yaquina Bay
SP=park immediately north of Yaquina Bay Bridge west of Hwy 101;
YBSJ=Yaquina Bay South Jetty, YHONA=Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area
(BLM).
* * * * * * * * * *
Editor's Note: I always appreciate the many nice notes in e-mail
and U. S. Mail sent along with bird reports and Other Nature Notes. Due
to this being the extremely busy part of the work year for me and to
personal concerns, I have not been able to answer very many of them. I
hope all senders can consider this impersonal note a personal thanks.
* * * * * * * * * *
LOONS - CORMORANTS
This was a month of surprises. SB, B&SLo, & LO were surprised by a
COMMON LOON, unusual this time of year in their study, found dead during
their August beached bird walk along 4.6 miles of beach near Thiel Creek.
BGPT noted 12 RED-THROATED LOONS off Newport on 9/6 and 1 on 9/8.
1 Red-throated off Seal Rock on 9/8 retained full breeding plumage (KM),
as did 6 off Boiler Bay on 9/14 (PP) and 4 of 6 PACIFIC LOONS also off
Seal Rock on 9/8 (KM). On 9/15, a COMMON LOON in full breeding plumage
at YBSJ intrigued MRR.
A winter-plumaged HORNED GREBE popped up among 20 disparate WESTERN
GREBES off Lost Creek on 9/8 (KM). A RED-NECKED GREBE flew north off
Boiler Bay on 8/21 (PP).
BGPT observed 30 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES off Newport on 8/24 and
167 on 9/6. Also off Newport, BGPT counted 28 NORTHERN FULMARS on 8/24
and 13 on 9/6, 31 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS on 8/24 and 139 on 9/6, 55
SOOTY SHEARWATERS on 8/24, 782 on 9/6, and 35 on 9/8, and
4 BULLER'S SHEARWATERS on 9/6. PP seawatched off Boiler Bay an average
of 1.6 hours on 4 days; Sooty numbers peaked at over 1000 on 9/5,
2 Pink-footeds fed with Sootys on 9/14, and on 9/6, a
MANX/BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER flew north. WH enjoyed a continuous
southbound shearwater stream there on 9/7.
BGPT counted 27 FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS off Newport on 8/24 and 1
on 9/6. Off Boiler Bay, BROWN PELICAN numbers peaked at 80 on 8/21 (PP).
* * * * * * * * * *
LINCOLN COUNTY'S FIRST DOCUMENTED BLUE-FOOTED BOOBY
NH, a YHONA ranger, saw an unidentified bird at Yaquina Head on 9/6.
On 9/7, GA and AJ identified an immature BLUE-FOOTED BOOBY there. As
others arrived to see GA's and AJ's promptly-reported find, the booby
circled several times and landed on the west (back) side of Colony Rock,
out of view. Action picked up on 9/8: at 6:45 AM, the booby emerged from
the back side of Colony Rock, flew about 150 yards west, executed a
series of shallow dives, and did a little bathing. About 6:50 it flew
south past the Yaquina Bay jetties, returning at 9:25 to the west side of
Colony Rock. As of 9:39, 30 birders waited for it to reappear. NH
allowed PS and DD to accompany her to the top of the lighthouse, the
three of them saw the booby while 25 birders waited below, and the
remaining birders later had their turn to go up the lighthouse. From
12:20 to 12:50 PM, the booby preened while facing the lighthouse, emitted
several good streams of poop, and again flew south. At 2:10, it
approached the southwest corner of Colony Rock from the SW, failed to
land, circled to try again 3 or 4 times (providing good views of its blue
feet), and finally landed out of sight on the west side of the rock. At
about 2:30, it suddenly re-appeared: it flew south, angling in toward a
point about 1/2 mile south of Agate Beach Wayside.
From their boat that day, BGPT identified nearly a dozen birders on
Yaquina Head as well as the Bend Bird Club on YBSJ... but not the booby.
It was last reported on 9/9, when from 10:00 - 11:30 AM, it preened and
stretched its wings. When a young lady YHONA Ranger was asked why the
booby was so far out of range, she replied, "It appears to be a young
male, so he probably refused to ask for directions." There were many
booby sighters, and records from OBOL composed this chronology.
* * * * * * * * * *
HERONS - WATERFOWL
159 GREAT BLUE HERONS joined 52 GREAT EGRETS in the combined Yaquina
Bay embayments on 8/25 (RB), 60 GREAT EGRETS waded in Idaho Flats on 9/1
(TB, JS), and 85 GREAT BLUE HERONS joined 65 GREAT EGRETS in Sally's Bend
and South Bay on 9/8 (KM). 17 GREAT EGRETS concentrated at the Drift
Creek Bridge in Siletz Bay on 8/28 (PT). Egret numbers are far higher
this year than in previous years. MN was treated to a GREAT EGRET-GREAT
BLUE HERON territorial dispute as he paddled Beaver Creek on 8/28.
52 large CANADA GEESE slurped sea lettuce (Ulva, a green alga) in
Sally's Bend on 9/8 (KM). 32 MALLARDS swam in Idaho Flats on 9/8, and 68
waded in Sally's Bend the same day; both groups included eclipse males
(KM). On 8/21, a pair of NORTHERN PINTAILS flew N off Boiler Bay (PP);
19, including eclipse males, foraged in Idaho Flats on 9/8 (KM).
BGPT saw 2 HARLEQUIN DUCKS off Newport on 9/8. A LONG-TAILED DUCK
greeted AC from south of Colony Rock on 9/10... but not the booby.
SURF SCOTER numbers off Boiler Bay peaked at 300 on both 9/5 and 9/6, and
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER numbers there peaked at 180 on 9/14 (PP). On glassy
water, 290 Surfs flocked off Lost Creek, and a tight flock of 120 Surfs
and 20 White-wingeds bobbed off Seal Rock on 9/8 (KM).
On 8/28 several female COMMON MERGANSERS plied Siletz Bay channels
near the Drift Creek Bridge, and one ate a fish almost too large for it
to swallow (PT); 9 in Idaho Flats on 9/8 included 7 immatures, an adult
female, and an eclipse male (KM).
* * * * * * * * * *
DIURNAL RAPTORS - RAILS
2 OSPREYS, 1 with fish, chirped as they flew from Idaho Flats south
over the hills on 9/8 (KM); BGPT enjoyed one over Yaquina Bay on 8/24.
On 8/23, a WHITE-TAILED KITE flew and perched along the Alsea River 1/2
mile west of Drift Creek; one was also there on 9/1 (JGr), the same day
one hovered over Idaho Flats (TB, JS); one hovering there on 9/8 flushed
gulls and egrets only slowly (KM), and PP spotted a kite there on 9/9.
On 9/8, 2 adult BALD EAGLES on the Idaho Flats mud hunted the same worms
as small gulls (KM; see "gulls" below).
A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK whumped into SSc's Neskowin (Tillamook County)
window on 9/18, promptly gathered himself together, and flew back into
the woods. On 8/31, 2 shrieking COMMON RAVENS harassed a silent
RED-TAILED HAWK in SSc's Neskowin yard. MRR spotted a juvenile
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK at Idaho Flats on 9/15. On 8/31, a PEREGRINE FALCON
stood in a creek on the beach just south of Seal Rock (JGr); BGPT spotted
another in Yaquina Bay on 9/6, and DF was treated to stunning views of an
adult at Yaquina Head on 9/10.
On 9/1, TB & JS heard several VIRGINIA RAILS call from Idaho Flats.
* * * * * * * * * *
SHOREBIRDS
A worn-plumaged adult PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER joined about 25
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS on the beach south of Waldport on 9/2 (DF). JGe
spotted 7 Black-bellieds at Yaquina Bay SP on 9/14.
DW found a single juvenile WANDERING TATTLER at Smelt Sands on 8/23;
others occurred singly in Yaquina Bay on 8/24, 9/6, and 9/8 (BGPT),
Boiler Bay on 9/6 (PP), and YBNJ on 9/8 (MT), when FS also saw 5 there.
A MARBLED GODWIT visited Yaquina Bay SP on 9/14 (JGe), and 2 were in
Idaho Flats on 9/15 (MRR).
BLACK TURNSTONES and SURFBIRDS returned in force to Smelt Sands on
8/23 (DW), Yaquina Bay on 8/24 (BGPT), and Yaquina Bay SP on 9/14 (JGe,
9/14). A juvenile RUDDY TURNSTONE and a juvenile ROCK SANDPIPER joined
the Smelt Sands assemblage on 8/23 (DW). A relatively tame BUFF-BREASTED
SANDPIPER joined several KILLDEERS at Quail Street Beach in south Seal
Rock on 9/13 (DHG) and 9/14 (CP). 3 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS visited
Idaho Flats on 9/1 (TB, JS).
Off Newport, BGPT counted 6 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES on 8/24, 125 on
9/6, and 35 on 9/8; 80 in small groups followed the upwelling line N off
Boiler Bay on 9/6 (PP). 65 RED PHALAROPES were off Newport on 8/24, as
was 1 on 9/6 (BGPT).
* * * * * * * * * *
PROJECT: 10 OR MORE OYSTERCATCHERS by RB
From September through February, flocks of 10 or more
BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS are regularly noted in Lincoln County; the most seen
at a time has been 41. To help document this phenomenon, please report
flocks of 10 or more in Lincoln County to KM or RB, noting the number of
oystercatchers, the time of day so that the tide stage can be determined,
location, and if they are roosting or actively feeding. Thanks!
* * * * * * * * * *
JAEGERS - TERNS
Off Newport, BGPT spotted 1 SOUTH POLAR SKUA on 8/24 and 3 on 9/6; 9
LONG-TAILED JAEGERS on 8/24 and 1 on 9/6, and 12 PARASITIC JAEGERS and 22
POMARINE JAEGERS on 9/6.
A FRANKLIN'S GULL flew north off Boiler Bay on 9/7 (WH). 8
BONAPARTE'S GULLS rested in Idaho Flats on 9/1 (TB, JS), and BGPT saw one
off Newport on 9/8. HEERMANN'S GULL numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on
9/6, when 30 flew N (PP), the same day about 100 rested at the end of
YBNJ among the cormorants and other gulls (FS). Off Newport, BGPT
counted 17 Heermann's on 8/24 and 7 on 9/8; TB & JS saw some in Idaho
Flats on 9/1. 55 CALIFORNIA GULLS flew N off Boiler Bay on 9/7 (WH), on
9/8, 65 were off Newport (BGPT), and 520 carpeted Idaho Flats (KM). 3000
gulls, including "a bunch" of adult RING-BILLED GULLS, flocked at the
mouth of Alsea Bay on 9/10 (DF); in the fall, Ring-billeds move to the
coast from their inland breeding sites before going south to wintering
areas, but they are much more common on sheltered waters than on the open
ocean.
On 9/8 in Sally's Bend, 2 MEW GULLS led 5 CALIFORNIA GULLS in
hover-foraging 20 feet over shallow mudflats in search of unidentified
worms. The gulls occasionally dropped to the surface to energetically
extract their prey by grasping with their bills, pulling with their leg
and body muscles, and flapping their wings. The worms were about 20"
long and 1/2" wide. During the considerable manipulation required to
ingest the worms, other Californias attempted to steal them, but none
successfully. The hunters gulped their prey in 2 to 3 swallows while
escaping in evasive flight. BGPT counted 4 MEW GULLS off Newport the
same day. BGPT counted 8 SABINE'S GULLS off Newport on 9/6.
7 COMMON TERNS flew N off Boiler Bay on 9/5 (PP), about 10 flew and
rested at the mouth of Alsea Bay on 9/10 (DF), and at least 5 stopped at
Yaquina Bay SP on 9/14 (JGe). Single ARCTIC TERNS appeared off Newport
on 8/24 and 9/6 (BGPT). CASPIAN TERNS were in Idaho Flats on 9/1 (TB,
JS).
* * * * * * * * * *
ALCIDS
15 alcids - 1 PIGEON GUILLEMOT and 14 murres (2 adults, 12 chicks)
were found dead along 4.6 miles of beach near Thiel Creek in August (SB,
B&SLo, LO). COMMON MURRE numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 8/21 at 200 on
the water (PP); off Newport, BGPT counted 225 on 8/24 and 450 on 9/8, the
same day at least 30 adult/chick pairs floated in glassy water off Lost
Creek (KM). On 8/30, the OCA released a successfully rehabilitated
COMMON MURRE found entangled in fishing line on 8/11 by recreational
crabbers in Yaquina Bay.
PIGEON GUILLEMOT numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 9/14 at 40,
including many juveniles (PP); off Newport, BGPT counted 35 on 8/24 and
45 on 9/8 as well as 6 MARBLED MURRELETS on 8/24 and 35 on 9/8.
MARBLED MURRELET numbers off Boiler Bay peaked at 12 in all plumages
on 9/5 (PP).
Off Newport, BGPT counted 10 CASSIN'S AUKLETS and 30
RHINOCEROS AUKLETS on 8/24, followed by another 7 Rhinos on 9/8.
22 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS flocked off Lost Creek on 9/8 (KM).
7 TUFTED PUFFINS - 5 singles and 1 pair - flew N off Boiler Bay on 8/21
(PP).
* * * * * * * * * *
DOVES - THRUSHES
5 MOURNING DOVES enjoyed broadcasted seed at MN's Fox Creek yard
through 9/16.
Editor's note: Here is more information on an owl report in last
month's Sandpiper. LO heard a juvenile BARRED OWL near his Beaver Creek
Valley home from 7/3 through late Aug, indicating that nesting occurred
there (unusual if not unprecedented in Lincoln County).
10 VAUX'S SWIFTS last sliced the sky above BO's north Newport home
on 9/5.
On about 8/26 at Yaquina Head, TM saw a crow with almost completely
white wings: the leading edge was black, but most flight feathers were
distinctly white. In MN's Fox Creek yard on about 9/16, an excited
STELLER'S JAY that invited itself into MN's VW van finally exited through
the driver's side door following a Laurel-and-Hardy scene inside with MN,
who said he was glad the jay hadn't been eating berries.
PURPLE MARTINS remained near EH's South Beach home through at least
9/3; a record 56 pairs nested in his Yaquina Bay boxes this year,
including 17 at HMSC and 22 at Fowler Oyster Company. EH also estimated
10 pairs in Alsea Bay and 7 in Siletz Bay, totaling about 73 pairs for
the county as well as 220 pairs in even more boxes from the Nehalem to
the Coquille River. Wow - what a wonderful service EH provides for the
estuarine ecosystem!
BO heard RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES every day since 9/7 at his north
Newport home, and 2 spent 2 days as of 9/16 in MN's Fox Creek trees
searching out cones. As of 9/16, MN still heard the "whit" of a few
remaining SWAINSON'S THRUSHES through the Fox Creek dusk.
* * * * * * * * * *
YELLOW WAGTAIL
During the dangerous hike along YBNJ, FS both injured his leg and
stood 8 ft from a juvenile YELLOW WAGTAIL 100 yds from the bitter end of
the jetty. The bird alternated hawking airborne prey with picking food
from among barnacles just above the waterline alongside BLACK TURNSTONES.
It lived up to its name by frequently but not constantly wagging its
tail, and it buzzed one buzzy, slightly rising "bzzzt." Occasionally a
turnstone attempted to chase it away, but the wagtail stayed in the same
15 ft circle as long as FS watched. See OBOL archives for detailed
documentation. Please remember that going out on YBNJ is a truly
life-threatening venture - no kidding! We're glad FS is OK!
* * * * * * * * * *
WAXWINGS - FINCHES
CEDAR WAXWINGS stopped briefly in August in P&BW's Tidewater yard to
eat cascara berries. PP spotted a MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER along Idaho
Flats on 9/9.
TB & JS found a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW next to Idaho Flats on 9/1;
another appeared in Wandemere on 9/16 and again on 9/18 (RC). 2 immature
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS formed the foreground for JSi's booby observation
at Yaquina Head on 9/8. 2 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS greeted PP in Idaho Flats
on 9/9.
Several EVENING GROSBEAKS visited BO's north Newport yard on 9/11.
One of several RED CROSSBILLS at Boiler Bay on 9/8 gnawed on a limpet
(MM); although crossbills are indeed attracted to salt, the behavior of
this last of this month's list is an appropriately intriguing end to a
month full of surprises.
OBSERVERS: George Armistead, Range Bayer, Bird Guide Pelagic Trip
(BGPT), Tanya Bray, Sara Brown, Rebecca Cheek, Alan Contreras,
Don DeWitt, Darrel Faxon, Joel Geier (JGe), Dawn Harris Grafe,
Jill Grover (JGr), Nemesia Herzstein, Wayne Hoffman, Eric Horvath,
Alvaro Jaramillo, Bob and Shirley Loeffel (B&SLo), Mark Miller,
Terry Morse, Michael Noack, Bob Olson, Laimons Osis, Chuck Philo,
Phil Pickering, Mark "Rudi" Rudolph, Floyd Schrock,
Shirley Schwartz (SSc), Jamie Simmons (JSi), Paul Sullivan,
Ruth Sullivan, John Sullivan (JSu), Marg Tweelinckx, Dave Westerfield,
Pat & Bunny Wright.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BIRD FIELD NOTES from the October 2002 Sandpiper 23(8)
by Kathy Merrifield
Abbreviations and some Lincoln Co. site locations: Beaver
Creek=creek flowing through Ona Beach SP, Bird Guide web site, Driftwood Beach= SP halfway between Seal Rock
and Waldport, Eckman Lake=lake 2 mi E of Waldport along Hwy 34, Eckman
Slough=slough between Alsea Bay and Eckman Lake, fide (Latin for
"faithfully")=reported to, Fox Creek=2 mi S of Seal Rock SP on U. S. 101,
HMSC =Hatfield Marine Science Center, HY=hatch-year (bird that hatched in
2002), Idaho Flats=large embayment just E of HMSC, MMP=Mike Miller Park:
county park on E side of Hwy 101 in South Beach, OBOL=Oregon Birders On
Line, OCA=Oregon Coast
Aquarium, Ona Beach=SP about 6.6 mi S of Yaquina Bay bridge W of Hwy 101
at Beaver Creek, Sallys Bend=large embayment E of the LNG tank at Yaquina
Bay, SP=State Park, Thiel Creek=creek about 3.5 mi S of Yaquina Bay
bridge, Thornton Creek=creek at Chitwood between Toledo and Eddyville,
Tidewater=town about 8 mi E of Waldport, Wandemere=about 0.5 mi N of Ona
Beach E of Hwy 101, WBS=Wandemere Big Sit, incl. WH, RC, WN, DF;
Waterleaf Nature Trail=behind Toledo Library, YBSJ=Yaquina Bay South
Jetty, Yaquina Bay SP=park immediately N of Yaquina Bay Bridge W of
Hwy 101.
* * * * * * * * * * *
LOONS - GREBES
PP seawatched from Boiler Bay an average of 1.65 hr on 10 days from
9/21 - 10/20; RED-THROATED LOON numbers there peaked at over 80 on both
10/12 and 10/13. At least 800 Red-throateds flew S in addition to at
least 20 on the water during RC & WN's 24-hr Wandemere Big Sit (=WBS,
incl. WH, RC, WN, DF), the same day 5 in near-winter transitional plumage
sat off Yachats in KM's Small Sit. PACIFIC LOON numbers off Boiler Bay
peaked on 10/13, when many of 1500 flew S (PP), surpassed only by at
least 4000 southbound during the WBS. COMMON LOON numbers off Boiler Bay
peaked on 10/12, when 400 flew S (PP), and on 10/13, 500 flew S DURING
the WBS. A basic or immature YELLOW-BILLED LOON accompanied
2 northward-flying Commons 1/4 mi off Boiler Bay on 10/9 (PP).
WESTERN GREBE numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 10/12 at 80 (PP). Up
to 40 Westerns were off Yaquina Head on 9/21 (WH, EH, RR), and 25 Big Sat
off Wandemere on 10/13 as did 1 CLARK'S GREBE and 1 RED-NECKED GREBE
(WBS). Red-necked numbers off Boiler Bay peaked at 4 on both 10/9 and 18
(PP), and the 10/18 CASFT led by PV spotted 1 Red-necked and some
HORNED GREBES in Yaquina Bay. 2 Horneds sat off Wandemere on 10/13
(WBS), and 4 were off Boiler Bay on 10/10 followed by 1 on 10/17 (PP).
* * * * * * * * * * *
TUBENOSES - HERONS
BGPT counted at least 150 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES off Newport on
10/6. 1 SOOTY SHEARWATER was found dead along 4.6 mi of beach near Thiel
Creek in September (SB, B&SLo, LO). About 800 Sooties and
2 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS were 1/2 mi off Boiler Bay on 9/23 (EH, RR),
and Sooty numbers there peaked on 9/26, when over 3000 streamed
northward, accompanied by the peak count of over 300 Pink-footeds (PP).
BGPT counted 40 BULLER'S SHEARWATERS on both 10/5 & 6, at least 80
Buller's/Pink-footed Shearwaters flew N about 2 mi off Boiler Bay on
10/12, and the Boiler Bay peak of over 70 Buller's flew N with Sooties on
9/26 (PP). BGPT spotted a FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER about 40 mi off N Lane
County on 10/5. A Manx-type shearwater was off Boiler Bay 10/11 (fide
HN), and a MANX SHEARWATER or BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER flew N off Boiler
Bay with Sooties on 10/12 (PP). BGPT saw over 300 NORTHERN FULMARS off
Newport on 10/6.
About 120 BROWN PELICANS flew S off Boiler Bay on 9/21 (WH), 100
flew N there on 9/23 (EH, RR), 2 flew over Idaho Flats on 10/1 (BLo),
most of about 2000 flew S off Wandemere on 10/13 (WBS), numbers off
Boiler Bay peaked the same day, when 300 flew S (PP), and CASFT saw 70
off Boiler Bay on 10/19.
800 BRANDT'S CORMORANTS flew N off Boiler Bay on 9/21 (WH) as did
500 on 9/23 (EH, RR) and most of 3500 flew N off Wandemere on 10/13
(WBS). Based on observation, PP thinks this is a large northward
movement in late summer and fall rather than local flight.
28 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS flew N high off Boiler Bay on 9/21 (WH),
25 were there on 9/23 (EH, RR) and about 250 flew S high off Wandemere on
10/13 (WBS).
4 GREAT EGRETS flew over Wandemere during the 10/13 Big Sit. On
10/19, a GREAT BLUE HERON stalked the roof of the Newport bayfront Fish
Peddler's Market, poking at rooftop items (PD.)
* * * * * * * * * * *
WATERFOWL
A BRANT visited Boiler Bay on 10/19 (CASFT), as did 6 large
CANADA GEESE on 9/21 (WH). At least 13 flocks of Canadas flew S through
the foggy Newport darkness the night of 10/3-4; it was a noisy night,
says BO. 35 Canadas, including some Cacklings, flew off Boiler Bay on
10/12 (PP), and 30-40 flew S low over Yaquina Head on 10/18 (YBNFT).
On 9/11, a flock of WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew S over Yaquina Bay SP
on 9/11, and on 9/21, a flock of 90 flew S over South Beach before
turning E towards Table Mountain (CP). On the still night of 9/18,
champion goose listener RL heard 2 separate high-altitude migrating
flocks of WHITE-FRONTED GEESE E of Eckman Lake flying NW to SE. High off
Boiler Bay on 9/21, a single flock of White-fronteds flew E (WH). A
White-fronted was grounded at Ona Beach on 9/24 (CP) and 9/30 (RL), and
on 10/10, MN watched a single adult land on Driftwood Beach. RB heard
calls of White-fronted flocks 5 times the night of 10/3 at HMSC, and
60 flew S over Boiler Bay on 10/10 (PP). Although SNOW GEESE are not
seen every fall in Lincoln County (RB), RL saw a flock of 45 fly S high
over Eckman Lake before turning E up the Alsea River on 9/18.
1 GREEN-WINGED TEAL was found dead along 4.6 mi of beach near Thiel
Creek in September (SB, B&SLo, LO); 6 live ones showed up for the 10/13
WBS, and most of 150 off Boiler Bay on 10/9 flew S (PP).
1000 NORTHERN PINTAILS, the peak count, flew S off Boiler Bay on 10/9
(PP). AMERICAN WIGEON numbers there also peaked on 10/9, when over 100
flew S; 15 attended the 10/13 WBS, and a large flock in Idaho Flats on
10/19 included a EURASIAN WIGEON (DB, PV, CASFT.)
3-4 BLUE-WINGED TEAL rested in Beaver Creek just N of Ona Beach SP on
9/24 (CP) and 9/30 (DF). At least 20 NORTHERN SHOVELERS flew N off
Boiler Bay on 10/9, as did over 300 dabbling duck spp.
1600 SURF SCOTERS flew S off Boiler Bay on 9/21 (WH), 100 were there
on 9/23 (EH, RR), 15,000 flew S while 120 sat off Wandemere on 10/13 Big
Sit, the same day 360 sat off Yachats (KM), and PP's Boiler Bay numbers
peaked at 1500 flying S on both 10/12 & 10/17. Most of
70 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS off Boiler Bay on 9/23 flew S (EH, RR), and
1,200 flew S over 40 obediently sitting on the ocean for the 10/13 WBS,
the same day 180 sat off Yachats (KM); numbers off Boiler Bay peaked at
200 on 10/9 (PP). 1 adult male BLACK SCOTER flew S off Boiler Bay on
9/21 (WH), 5 were off Yaquina Head on 9/23 (EH, RR), a female entertained
JGe off Smelt Sands on 10/12, 8 flew S off Wandemere on 10/13 (WBS), and
numbers off Boiler Bay peaked at 15 flying both directions on 10/17 (PP).
WH saw lone LONG-TAILED DUCKS fly S off Boiler Bay on 9/21 and
10/12, and another was off Yaquina Head on 10/9 (JF fide JSi).
4 HARLEQUIN DUCKS greeted CASFT at Seal Rock on 10/19. PP described a
possible female STELLER'S EIDER seen also by WH, JSu, LJ, and TB off
Boiler Bay on 10/11. CASFT spotted a BUFFLEHEAD and some COMMON
MERGANSERS in Idaho Flats on 10/19 (DB). 18 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS flew
S off Wandemere on 10/13 for the Big Sit (WBS.)
* * * * * * * * * * *
DIURNAL RAPTORS
An OSPREY patrolled the surf line just N of Beaver Creek on 10/30
(BLo). Single WHITE-TAILED KITES were over Beaver Creek on 10/6 (TG) and
Yaquina Bay on 10/18 (YBNFT) and 10/19 (CASFT). Single NORTHERN HARRIERS
were 3/4 mi off Boiler Bay on 10/12 (PP) and at HMSC on 10/19 (CASFT).
In Yachats on 10/6, an adult BALD EAGLE retained a bird in its talons
while badgered by gulls (BB); on 10/19, CASFT saw another adult eagle in
Yaquina Bay. A COOPER'S HAWK visited Moolack Beach on 9/21 (WH).
On 9/30, a 1st-year RED-SHOULDERED HAWK perched in an alder near the
HMSC USFWS building, and in the evening, it launched from trees near
there towards Idaho Point (RL). On 10/6, DF saw a Red-shouldered at
Idaho Flats, and TG saw one between HMSC and OCA; BB spotted one in
Yachats on 10/15. PD saw a RED-TAILED HAWK near the Toledo City shops on
10/12, and on 10/18, one hovered so close over YBNFT that they could see
the streaks on its feathers.
A PEREGRINE FALCON stooped at a BLACK OYSTERCATCHER at Boiler Bay on
9/21 (WH), 2 at Seal Rock on 9/23 induced an oystercatcher to dive in
escape (EH, RR), another flew NW behind the Newport Bayfront (PWL), 2
interacted above the Yachats rocks on 10/13 (JGe), and 1 was at Boiler
Bay on 10/17 (PP). A MERLIN flew among the trees near Idaho Flats on
10/5 (PL), DF saw one in the same area on 10/6, and another visited the
Yachats River mouth on 10/14 (BB).
* * * * * * * * * * *
QUAIL - JAEGERS
MOUNTAIN QUAIL covied about a mi E of Siletz the week of 10/7 (JC).
On 9/23, an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER and a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER
joined about 25 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS on the beach S of Waldport (DF).
4 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS were at Boiler Bay on 9/21 (WH), 12 flocked
at Seal Rock on 9/23 (EH, RR), a flock of at least 16 flew S off Yachats
on 10/13 (KM), and CASFT counted 26 at Depoe Bay on 10/19. A
WANDERING TATTLER wandered at Seal Rock on 9/23 (EH, RR).
2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS pecked Ona Beach on 9/24 (CP) as did 2 at Idaho
Flats on 9/29 (DF) as well as a probable Pectoral there on 10/13 (JG).
On 9/30 near the mouth of Beaver Creek, 2 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS joined
WESTERN SANDPIPERS, LEAST SANDPIPERS, a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, DUNLINS,
SANDERLINGS, KILLDEER, and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS (DF); by 10/6,
1 Baird's and a few of the others remained (DF, TG). WH survived a close
flyby of 2 northbound RED PHALAROPES at Boiler Bay on 9/21.
BGPT counted at least 4 SOUTH POLAR SKUAS off Newport on 10/5, and
a juvenile followed them for 6 min - very strange behavior, says GG - on
their 10/6 trip. 1 distant large jaeger chased a gull off Boiler Bay on
9/23 (EH, RR). A pale adult PARASITIC JAEGER approached the Wandemere
shore on 10/13 (WBS), and 2 were off Boiler Bay on 9/26 as was 1 on 9/24
and 1 on 10/13 (PP). Most of the 43 POMARINE JAEGERS off Boiler Bay on
9/24 followed SOOTY SHEARWATERS, and along with a few juveniles, most
were adults lacking tail streamers, but 4 had full tails;
8 Pomarines flew N there on 9/26 (PP).
* * * * * * * * * * *
GULLS - TERNS
The head of a FRANKLIN'S GULL off Boiler Bay on 9/21 was mostly
white (WH). A BONAPARTE'S GULL joined CALIFORNIA GULLS,
RING-BILLED GULLS, WESTERN GULLS, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, and MEW GULLS in
Idaho Flats on 9/23 (EH, RR), 7 Bonaparte's was there on 10/13 (JGe).
Bonaparte's numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 10/12 when 24, including
several HY, flew S (PP). Over 200 HEERMANN'S GULLS flew S on 10/13 off
Wandemere, where WH, RC, WN, and DF Big Sat, and Heermann's numbers off
Boiler Bay peaked on 10/18, when 400 streamed S (PP). WESTERN GULL
numbers at Boiler Bay peaked on 9/26, when most, including many
juveniles, flew N (PP). At least 30 GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS flew S off
Wandemere on 10/13 (WBS), and Glaucous-winged numbers off Boiler Bay
peaked on 10/18, when over 60 flew S. 6 THAYER'S GULLS - 5 adults and
1 juvenile - PP's highest count, flew S off Boiler Bay on 10/15, and
CALIFORNIA GULL numbers there peaked on 9/26, when over 1000 flew S (PP).
On 9/23, about 2200 gulls, mostly Californias, flocked in the mouth of
Alsea Bay (DF), and 2400 flew S off Wandemere past the 10/13 Big Sit
(WBS). Many RING-BILLED GULLS hawked insects over HMSC on 9/23 (SK).
20 MEW GULLS roosted in Idaho Flats on 9/23 (EH, RR), Mew numbers off
Boiler Bay peaked on 10/12, when 80 flew S (PP), and 500 flew S off
Wandemere on 10/13 (WBS). The growing D River gull flock first included
a HERRING GULL, a THAYER'S GULL, and at least 2 HERRING X GLAUCOUS-WINGED
GULLS on 10/18 (PP).
5 COMMON TERNS, including 1 fully-capped adult, worked quiet water
by YBSJ on 9/23 (EH, RR). A squalling juvenile trailed an adult
CASPIAN TERN southward off Wandemere on 10/13 (WBS).
* * * * * * * * * * *
ALCIDS
10 COMMON MURRES - 1 adult and 9 chicks - were found dead along
4.6 mi of beach near Thiel Creek in September (SB, B&SLo, LO).
COMMON MURRE numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 10/9, when over 1000 flew N
(PP). 4 PIGEON GUILLEMOTS were off Boiler Bay on 9/21 (WH) and 5 on 9/23
(EH, RR); numbers there peaked on 9/24 when 40, mostly HY, flew N, followed
by 10 on 10/9 (PP); 1 in winter plumage sat off Yachats on 10/13 (KM), and
2 in winter plumage were off Yaquina Head on 10/18 (YBNFT). BGPT spotted
over 350 CASSIN'S AUKLETS off Newport on 10/5. On about 10/13, OCA
aviculturalist TD received a HY CASSIN'S AUKLET found in a parking lot in
Toledo! It was generally OK and was released offshore after basic care.
RB doesn't recall any Cassin's records from E of the Yaquina Bay Bridge,
so this one was really lost. RHINOCEROS AUKLET numbers off Boiler Bay
peaked on 9/24, when over 500 flew N. 1 MARBLED MURRELET, unusual in
this study, was found dead along 4.6 mi of beach near Thiel Creek in
September (SB, B&SLo, LO). 6 MARBLED MURRELETS were off Boiler Bay on
9/21 (WH) as were 4 on 9/23 (EH, RR); 9 assembled off Wandemere for the
10/13 Big Sit (WBS), and Boiler Bay numbers peaked when 9 flew N the same
day (PP). BGPT saw 5 XANTUS' MURRELETS 35-45 mi off Yachats & Waldport
on 10/5; see OBOL archives for details of this momentous find.
* * * * * * * * * * *
PIGEONS - HUMMINGBIRDS
2 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS flew over BLo's house on 10/3, and on 10/10,
MN still had 1 Band-tailed at his Fox Creek feeder. In late September,
DK saw and photographed a WHITE-WINGED DOVE frequenting her Newport home;
on 10/17, she contacted RB, who put a scanned photo on the web; all
respondents felt that DK's ID was correct, so a report to the Oregon Bird
Records Committee was submitted.
A silent BARN OWL glided straight towards RL as he listened for
geese on 9/18-19 in his Eckman Lake yard. As of 9/22, DF enjoyed dawn
and dusk PYGMY OWL toots and was serenaded nightly by both
WESTERN SCREECH OWLS and NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS at his Thornton Creek
home. Also there on 10/5 just before dusk, DF heard Saw-whets, Western
Screeches, and NORTHERN PYGMY OWLS all calling from a 10-acre patch of
15 yr old Douglas fir, and while trimming these firs on 10/16, he flushed
a Saw-whet to a tree 6 ft away, a close view appreciated especially
because Saw-whets are heard much more often than seen.
On 9/2 in Yachats, a COMMON NIGHTHAWK perched on a wire (BB). BB
saw her first fall ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD at her Yachats feeder on 10/14.
* * * * * * * * * * *
WOODPECKERS - SWALLOWS
A DOWNY WOODPECKER visited LH's Nye Beach yard on 10/7. EH and RR
spotted a PILEATED WOODPECKER in MMP on 9/23, and another visited a
Tidewater yard in late Sept (fide BW). The same wintering intergrade
NORTHERN FLICKER returned to Wandemere on 10/4 for its 4th year of
feasting in RC's yard. RC recognizes his red "mustache," large red nape
chevron, yellow wing and tail linings, and a feather cowlick.
On 10/15, a TROPICAL KINGBIRD perched on a wire right outside RB's
Newport apartment - a striking sight in the full sunlight of another blue
sky day. On 10/13, a NORTHERN SHRIKE perched in a tree where Idaho Point
Rd first reaches Idaho Flats in South Beach (DF). EH & RR spotted a
HUTTON'S VIREO in MMP on 9/23.
A COMMON RAVEN had frequented Tidewater for several days as of 9/23
(BW). A WESTERN SCRUB JAY stopped by RC's Wandemere platform feeder on
10/10 for a leisurely 10 min of sunflower seed-processing. 2 GRAY JAYS
visited MN's Fox Creek acreage on 9/29.
RC, recounting tales of the Wandemere BARN SWALLOWS, reported that
5 swallowlets hatched from the garage nest; short interior test flights
began on 7/12 and outdoor flights on 7/13. The group returned to roost
in the garage every night for 2 weeks; by 7/29, no more slept inside, but
several, including adults ragged from molt, often returned to RC's yard
and sometimes perched in the garage. All the neighborhood BARN SWALLOWS
flew and sang together all day on 8/27 & 28. By 8/29, all were gone.
RC thought it was way too quiet.
* * * * * * * * * * *
WRENTITS - FINCHES
EH & RR enjoyed 2 WRENTITS at point blank range on 9/23.
2 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES enjoyed MN's Fox Creek kitchen window feeder
from 9/18 to at least 10/10. VARIED THRUSHES drop to the lowlands in
winter (RB); one dropped to the Waterleaf Nature Trail in Toledo on
10/12 (PD), and another dropped to a spruce in MN's Fox Creek lowlands
on 10/16, calling 2 single notes.
30 AMERICAN PIPITS pipped YBSJ open sand on 9/23 (EH, RR), and
another pipped to WH at Boiler Bay on 10/12. Up to 60 CEDAR WAXWINGS
flocked N of Toledo on 8/31, on 9/13, about 60 milled about, feasting on
berries there (PD), BLo noted a pre-fledged juvenile in his South Beach
yard on 9/15, and EH & RR spotted 30 along Idaho Flats on 9/23.
EH & RR saw 4 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS along Idaho Flats on 9/23, and
CASFT saw some on there 10/19. DF found a late YELLOW WARBLER there on
9/29. TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS first attended J&KC's yard 4 mi E of Waldport
on 10/21.
A SPOTTED TOWHEE in RF's coastal yard near Newport last spring
lacked all toes on one foot; it survived the summer despite its inability
to double-foot-scratch. Another towhee with a differently deformed foot
appeared on 10/17; RF wonders if this is a genetic defect or if avian
foot pox is common among towhees. Any ideas?
A bright migrant SAVANNAH SPARROW visited Boiler Bay on 9/21 (WH).
RC's first Wandemere FOX SPARROW appeared on 9/24. BBC found a
LINCOLN'S SPARROW and a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW way out towards the end of
YBSJ on 10/5; a white-striped White-throated appeared in J&KC's yard 4 mi
E of Waldport on 10/20. EH & RR noted GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS at Idaho
Flats on 9/23. The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, solitary in RC's Wandemere yard
until 9/30, left with a mixed sparrow flock the next day. In the 3rd
DARK-EYED JUNCO nest (2nd brood) in RC's Wandemere fuchsia basket, all
3 eggs hatched, 3 junclets fledged on 8/10, and all survived to
independence. BW's first Tidewater juncos arrived on 9/29. A
LAPLAND LONGSPUR pipped with the pipits at YBSJ on 9/23 (EH, RR). At
least 6 BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS attending WH's South Beach feeders
throughout the summer departed on 9/17.
PD arose at 5 AM to see 4 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS near the Toledo City
Shops on 10/12. 2 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES in Tidewater had developed winter
plumage by 9/29 (BW). It must be winter.
OBSERVERS: Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Bend Bird Club (BBC),
Don Boucher, Tanya Bray, Sara Brown, Rebecca Cheek, Jan Christensen,
Corvallis Audubon Society Field Trip (CASFT), Pat Dickey, Todd Dunkirk,
Darrel Faxon, Roy Filby, Joe Fontaine, Joel Geier (=JGe), Greg Gilson of
BGPT, Jill Grover (=JGr), Troy Guy, Louise Hemphill, Wayne Hoffman,
Eric Horvath, Laura Johnson, Doris Kasper, Steve Kupillas, Peter W.
Lawson (=PWL), Bob (BLo & Shirley Loeffel, Peter Low (=PL),
Kathy Merrifield, Harry Nehls, Walt Nelson, Laimons Osis, Chuck Philo,
Phil Pickering, Rich Reiger, Jamie Simmons (JSi), John Sullivan (JSu),
Paula Vanderheul, WBS=Wandemere Big Sit (incl. WH, RC, WN, DF),
Bunny Wright, Yaquina Birders and Naturalists Field Trip (YBNFT).
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BIRD FIELD NOTES from the November 2002 Sandpiper 23(9)
by Kathy Merrifield
Abbreviations and some Lincoln Co. site locations: Bayshore
Beach=ocean beach along north Alsea Bay Spit, Bayshore Pasture=field east
of junction of Beaver Creek Road and North Alsea Bay Road, Beaver
Creek=creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park, Beaver Creek
Marsh=marsh just east of Hwy 101 opposite Ona Beach managed by Wetlands
Conservancy, Bird Guide web site for trip information and archives, Boone Slough=freshwater slough at about mile
8.9 along north Yaquina Bay Road, Darkey Creek Road=2 mi E of Eckman Lake
along 34, Driftwood Beach SP=park about halfway between Seal Rocks and
Waldport, Eckman Lake=lake 2 mi east of Waldport along Hwy 34, Eckman
Slough=slough between Alsea Bay and Eckman Lake, fide=reported to, Fox
Creek=2 mi S of Seal Rock SP on U. S. 101, HMSC =Hatfield Marine Science
Center, HY=hatch-year (bird that hatched in YEAR), Idaho Flats=large
embayment just east of HMSC, Lost Creek=SP about 4.75 mi south of Yaquina
Bay bridge, OCA=Oregon Coast Aquarium, Ona Beach=state park about 6.6 mi
south of Yaquina Bay bridge along Hwy 101 at Beaver Creek, Perpetua
Bank=undersea elevation 32 miles W of Yachats, Sallys Bend=large
embayment east of the LNG tank at Yaquina Bay, Sandpiper
Village=residential areas west of Hwy 101 and just north of Waldport,
Sandpiper Shores=residential area just north of Sandpiper Village, Thiel
Creek=creek about 3.5 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge, Tidewater=about
8 mi east of Waldport, Wandemere=about 0.5 mi north of Ona Beach along
Hwy 101, YBSJ=Yaquina Bay South Jetty.
* * * * * * * * * * *
LOONS - TUBENOSES
PP seawatched an average of 2.0 hours off Boiler Bay on each of
7 days between 10/21 and 11/20. RED-THROATED LOON numbers there peaked
on 11/18, when over 1500 flew S, PACIFIC LOON numbers also peaked on
11/18, when over 6000 flew S, and COMMON LOON numbers peaked on 10/29,
when over 3000 flew S.
WESTERN GREBE numbers off Boiler Bay peaked at 60 on 11/18, and
RED-NECKED GREBE numbers there peaked on 11/9 at 89 (PP). TB&JSu saw an
EARED GREBE at YBSJ on 11/9, Eareds were at Boiler Bay and Devils Lake on
11/9-10 (OFOBW), and another dove with 3 Horneds off Boiler Bay on 11/16
(WH, RC, KS).
BGPT spotted 22 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES at Perpetua Bank, and on
10/26, OSUPT found 340 mostly immatures there, unusual this late, joined
by fall's first LAYSAN ALBATROSS.
6 NORTHERN FULMARS were found dead along 4.6 miles of beach near
Thiel Creek in November (SB, B&SLo, LO), and BLo also found one moribund.
On 10/26, JGr released into the water a fulmar stranded on Bayshore Beach
into the water. At least 1100 fulmars flew S off Spanish Head on 11/7
(PP). SOOTY SHEARWATER numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 10/27, when over
1000 flew N (PP). Also off Boiler Bay, 2 BULLER'S SHEARWATERS/PINK-
FOOTED SHEARWATERS flew past on 10/29 (PP), 1 Buller's and 5 SHORT-TAILED
SHEARWATERS flew S on 11/17 (WH, RC, KS), 4 Pink-footeds appeared on
10/27, a MANX SHEARWATER/BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER flew S on 11/9, and a
MANX SHEARWATER passed on 11/18 (PP). BGPT counted 258 fulmars as well
as 9 Pink-footed, 21 Buller's, and 16 Sooty Shearwaters on their 10/19
Perpetua Bank trip. OSUPT followed on 10/26, counting 2500 fulmars along
with 120 Pink-footed, 7 Flesh-footed, 100 Buller's, and 75 Sooty
Shearwaters. 21 FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS were at Perpetua Bank on 10/19
(BGPT) followed by 4 there on 10/26 (OSUPT).
* * * * * * * * * * *
PELICANS - GEESE
On 11/14, 15-30 BROWN PELICANS/hr flew S off Wandemere (RC); perhaps
many landed just south on the largest rock off Seal Rock, where JGr and
CP saw up to 300 on 11/15. Off Boiler Bay, at least 200 rode the wind
north on 11/16, and on 11/17, most of 400 morning pelicans flew south
(WH, RC, KS). Pelican numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 10/30, when
440 flew N (PP).
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 1/29, when
800 flew S (PP). BRANDT'S CORMORANT numbers there peaked on 10/27, when
250 flew N (PP).
OFOBW spotted an AMERICAN BITTERN on 11/9-10, and another bittern
spooked from Siletz Bay on 11/11 was mobbed by four AMERICAN CROWS (CB).
48 Aleutian CANADA GEESE flew S off Boiler Bay on 10/29 (PP), as did
200 on 11/17 (WH, RC, KS). Small Canadas including cacklers joined large
Canadas along Beaver Creek on 10/28 and on 11/9, when 10 WHITE-FRONTED
GEESE were there (LO). 13 Aleutian Canadas, 3 cackling Canadas, and 2
adult White-fronteds roamed Salishan Golf Course for 2 weeks as of 11/16
(RL, AK, WH). RL heard a flock of SNOW GEESE calling over his Eckman
Lake house on 11/10.
BRANT left Cold Bay, Izembek, Alaska, their sole west coast breeding
area, on 11/8-10, and 4000 were in Baja California by 11/13 (DP fide RL).
The first 25 arrived in Yaquina Bay on 11/13, a week or so later than
usual; by 11/18, 82 had come (DP). On the spot on 11/14, JGr counted
30 in Idaho Flats.
* * * * * * * * * * *
PUDDLE AND BAY DUCKS
1 NORTHERN PINTAIL and 1 NORTHERN SHOVELER were found dead along 4.6
miles of beach near Thiel Creek in November (SB, B&SLo, LO). A WOOD DUCK
hen flew from the S end of Eckman Lake on 11/16 (RC). A few
GREEN-WINGED TEALS and NORTHERN PINTAILS joined southward offshore flight
from 10/25 - 11/17 (PP, OSUPT, WH, RC, KS). 1 typical male and
1 red-phase female EURASIAN WIGEON joined 60 AMERICAN WIGEONS and
50 GADWALLS in Eckman Lake on 11/19 (KM, SaL). On 11/9, 11/14, and
11/19, at least 5 Eurasians rafted with a few hundred pintails and
1650 AMERICAN WIGEONS (RC&WN; TB&JSu, OFOBW, JGr, KM).
A HY female COMMON POCHARD was reported in Idaho Flats on 11/17
(OBOL). Some of at least 30 RING-NECKED DUCKS in Eckman Lake on 11/3,
11/10, 11/16, and 11/19 appeared paired; up to 6 LESSER SCAUPS joined
them (KM, RC&WN). A CANVASBACK male dove repeatedly in Eckman Lake on
11/3, and 17 had arrived in Sally's Bend by 11/19 (KM). At least 6
REDHEADS in Eckman Lake on 11/19 appeared paired at times (KM, SaL), and
4 males and at least 1 female joined the Sally's Bend flock the same day
(KM).
* * * * * * * * * * *
SEA DUCKS
SURF SCOTER numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 10/29, when over 5000
flew S (PP). BLACK SCOTER numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 11/9, when
80 flew S. TBG noted several Blacks at the mouth of Schooner Creek in
Siletz Bay on 11/12. WHITE-WINGED SCOTER numbers off Boiler Bay peaked
on 10/29, when over 400 flew S (PP); WH, RC, & KS watched another
300 southward migrants there on 11/17. A LONG-TAILED DUCK flew S with
scoters off Boiler Bay on 10/29 (PP); another swam in Devils Lake on
11/9-10 (OFOBW). AC, SS, & NS saw a pair of Long-taileds at YBSJ on
11/10, where 1 followed flying SURF SCOTERS on 11/16 (WH). Up to
3 HARLEQUIN DUCKS frequented YBSJ on 11/9-10 (AC, SS, NS, OFOBW, WN&RC,
TB&JSu) and 11/12 (TBG, JGr), OFOBW found others at Seal Rock on
11/9-10, and a pair flew S off Boiler Bay on 11/9 (PP). 4 male and
1 female COMMON GOLDENEYES had arrived in Sally's Bend by 11/19 (KM).
7 COMMON MERGANSERS flew S off Boiler Bay on 10/29 (PP); up to 3 were in
Eckman Lake on 11/16 & 19 (RC, KM). LO spotted RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS
in north Beaver Creek on 11/9. Eckman Lake hosted 35 HOODED MERGANSERS
on 11/3 (KM), some were in Bayshore Pasture on 11/9 (WH), 6 were there on
11/10, Eckman Lake numbers had reached at least 50 on 11/10 (WN&RC), 8
were in Boone Slough on 11/13 (BbO), and a pair was in NW Sally's Bend on
11/19 (KM).
* * * * * * * * * * *
DIURNAL RAPTORS
The Lincoln County Kite Festival continues: a WHITE-TAILED KITE
hunted along the Alsea River near Drift Creek (BrO), another chirped and
hovered over Idaho Flats on 10/22 (JGr), another graced Beaver Creek
Valley on 10/17 (LO), TD identified a juvenile along Idaho Flats on 11/2;
an adult hovered there on 11/7 (JGr), where JL saw a juvenile hover on
11/8; WH saw a kite harass a RED-TAILED HAWK over Beaver Creek Marsh on
11/8, where a first-winter kite perched atop a snag on 11/10 (RC&WN) and
OFOBW found one on 11/9-10, another was at Salmon River Meadows the same
weekend (OFOBW), and JGr watched one hunt over Idaho Flats on 11/14.
Several kites were harassed by AMERICAN CROWS. A single NORTHERN HARRIER
harried WN&RC both in Idaho Flats on 11/9 and at their Wandemere home on
11/10.
A BALD EAGLE returned to his spruce tree perch along the Alsea near
P&BW's Tidewater yard, an adult was in its usual Ona Beach SP tree from
10/27 through at least 11/12 (LO), WN&RC watched eagle flybys at their
Wandemere home on 11/10, single adults visited Siletz Bay and Moolack
Beach on 11/16 (WH), and 1 of the 2 WH, RC, KS watched at Boiler Bay on
11/17 carried a dark bird resembling a FULMAR.
On 11/8 in WN&RC's Wandemere yard, an adult male SHARP-SHINNED HAWK
blasted through juncos; another Sharp-shinned adult flew past RL's HMSC
office window on 11/13. TD observed a juvenile RED-SHOULDERED HAWK on
10/26-28 in trees near OCA. RL saw another near Idaho Flats on 11/8, and
WN&RC and TB&JSu saw one there on 11/9. On 11/20 at the pond near OCA,
PL found both a Red-shouldered and a melanistic RED-TAILED HAWK. An
AMERICAN KESTREL visited Yaquina Head on 10/13 (BLM), and WN&RC watched
another fly over Bayshore Pasture on 11/10, after which they found a
MERLIN along Idaho Flats. BbO spotted a MERLIN at the OCA pond on 11/11.
A PEREGRINE FALCON harassed shorebirds at Driftwood Beach on 11/4
(MN). Off Boiler Bay, a dark immature Peregrine flew S on 11/10, and on
11/11, an adult dove into troughs, probably hunting phalaropes (PP).
Another adult Peregrine repeatedly perched in a snag just north of the
Alsea Bay bridge on 11/10 (WN&RC), the same day BbO spotted another at
Idaho Point. An adult Pacific PEREGRINE FALCON perched on a pole beside
Hwy. 101 just north of Salishan on 11/10 (FS). On 11/12, TBG enjoyed 2
Peregrines on the Idaho Flats mud, one eating, defending, and carrying
prey away from potential thieving gulls. Meanwhile, back at Salishan, a
Peregrine carried its prey to the pines to eat it on 11/13; LS identified
the resulting fallen wing as that of a ROCK DOVE. Meanwhile, back near
Idaho Flats, PL detected 2 - one a juvenile which flew low over his head
carrying prey. On 11/20, an adult Peregrine sat among phalarope feather
piles on the Idaho Flats mud island during the RED PHALAROPE wreck (see
below); the origin of the feather piles was not hard to figure out (EH).
* * * * * * * * * * *
GROUSE - SANDPIPERS
On 10/8, 6 MOUNTAIN QUAIL coveyed in the Sandpiper Shores woods
(JGr). OFOBW detected VIRGINIA RAILS at Beaver Creek Marsh on 11/9-10.
A LONG-BILLED CURLEW waded in Bayshore Pasture on 11/9-10 (WH,
OFOBW, TB&JSu). A MARBLED GODWIT waded among floating Idaho Flats ducks
on 11/9 (WN&RC, TB&JSu, OFOBW). A ROCK SANDPIPER hunted near the edge of
the DEPOE BAY surf on 11/12 (TBG, FP) with BLACK TURNSTONES and
SURFBIRDS.
On 10/19, BGPT counted 13 RED PHALAROPES off Yachats, and OSUPT
counted 15 there on 10/26. On 11/8, WH reported the first wave of the
Phalarope Wreck of Aught-Two: a few hundred RED PHALAROPES lined the
north shore of Alsea Bay and overflowed into Bayshore Pasture. Hundreds
more Reds were scattered on and between the Yaquina Bay jetties and Idaho
Flats on 11/9 (CP, TB&JSu, RC&WN), in Alsea Bay (WH, RC&WN), and in
Bayshore Pasture (TB&JSu). On 11/10, hundreds of RED PHALAROPES littered
the Yaquina and Alsea mouths through embayments as well as flooded fields
and valleys beyond and along the coast at least as far north as the
Salmon River and south as Seal Rock; high numbers continued through at
least 11/20, supplemented by phalo-refugees from subsequent heavy storms.
At Boiler Bay on 11/16, WH, RC, & KS watched the storm drive airborne
phalaropes over the blufftop fence all across the lawn. High numbers
were found dead on beaches south of Newport (LO, B&SLo). AC, JGr, EH,
and JH spied a few RED-NECKED PHALAROPES crashing the wreck of the Reds.
PS found these tundra-nesting pelagic winterers unusually tame. On 11/9
at YBSJ, an AMERICAN CROW flew onto a phalarope and hammered it on the
head, incapacitating it within seconds before ripping its head off;
2 more crows landed and then chased the first crow, now carrying the
headless phalarope (TB.) On 11/10, a crow dove onto an obliviously
foraging RED PHALAROPE and quickly killed and ate it (PS, T&CH). On
11/13, a crow flew out of the HMSC dune grass with a RED PHALAROPE before
landing to pluck it (RL).
On 10/29, a COMMON SNIPE zinged over the roof to land in BbO's
Newport driveway; bird and man stared for several seconds before the
snipe retreated. Bayshore Pasture hosted a few more snipes on 11/9 (WH,
TB&JSu) as did N Beaver Creek (LO).
* * * * * * * * * * *
JAEGERS - GULLS
On both 10/29 and 11/9, 1 POMARINE JAEGER flew S off Boiler Bay
(PP). BGPT counted 2 Pomarines off Yachats on 10/19, and OSUPT counted
15 there as well as 1 PARASITIC JAEGER on 10/26. 3 light Parasitics flew
off Boiler Bay on 11/17 (WH, RC, KS).
BONAPARTE'S GULL numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 10/29 when over
600 flew S (PP); over 300 flew N off Boiler Bay on 11/17 (WH, RC, KS).
HEERMANN'S GULL numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 10/29, when over 900
flew S (PP), and over 200 flew S there on 11/17 (WH, RC, KS). WESTERN
GULL numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 11/9, when most of over 400 flew S
(PP), and GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL numbers there peaked on 11/17, when over
600 flew S (WH, RC, KS). A THAYER'S GULL was at YBSJ on 11/10 (WH), and
15 HERRING GULLS and 4 Thayer's were there on 11/16 (WH, RC, KS). On
11/15, RC alerted WH to a leucistic immature Glaucous-winged at YBSJ, and
on 11/10, WH spotted a Glaucous-winged X HERRING GULL hybrid there.
CALIFORNIA GULL numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 11/10, when over 1200
flew S (PP); that day, 85% of 25-50 southbound gulls/min off Wandemere
were Californias (WN&RC). MEW GULL numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on
10/29, when over 500 flew S (PP); 260 were in the Yaquina Bay embayments
on 11/19 (KM). On 11/10, WH found a Siberian Mew Gull at YBSJ, and WN&RC
watched 100 Mews feast on earthworms surfacing in flooded Bayshore
Pasture. A SABINE'S GULL was at Perpetua Bank on 10/19 (BGPT) and
another was off Boiler Bay on 11/12 (FP). BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE numbers
off Boiler Bay peaked on 11/18, when over 400 flew S (PP). On 11/18, DF
identified a probable 1st winter ROSS' GULL off Yachats as it flew slowly
between troughs and hovered at times.
* * * * * * * * * * *
ALCIDS - HUMMINGBIRDS
13 murres and 1 RHINOCEROS AUKLET were found dead along 4.6 miles of
beach near Thiel Creek in November (SB, B&SLo, LO). Off Boiler Bay on
11/19, COMMON MURRE numbers peaked at 20,000 flying S, and PIGEON
GUILLEMOT numbers peaked at 11, also flying S (PP). OSUPT counted 50
winter-plumaged PIGEON GUILLEMOTS off Yachats on 10/26; 1 was at YBSJ on
11/9 (WN&RC, TB). ANCIENT MURRELET numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on
11/18 at 290. OSUPT counted 4019 CASSIN'S AUKLETS at Perpetua Bank on
10/19, and BGPT counted 1500 there on 10/26; 3 were off Boiler Bay on
10/27 (PP). RHINOCEROS AUKLET numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 11/18,
when over 800 flew S (PP), and OSUPT counted 120 at Perpetua Bank.
A WHITE-WINGED dove was observed in Newport on 4-5 days during 9/22-
30 (fide RB). A SHORT-EARED OWL flew over the grassy dunes along YBSJ on
10/31 (CP), another perched on the ground along the bluffside fence at
Boiler Bay on 11/15 (fide RC), and RL spotted one over the HMSC dunegrass
the same evening. CP and WH identified 2 BURROWING OWL wings from the
beach S of YBSJ. On 11/15, a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL betrayed its identity by
rotating its neckless head 180 degrees (PW).
A male ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD sought fuchsia flowers in P&BW's Tidewater
yard on 10/21, a pair used RF's Newport feeder for 2 weeks as of 11/3,
and a male still sang in WN&RC's Wandemere yard as of 11/20.
* * * * * * * * * * *
WOODPECKERS - FINCHES
1 RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER visited P&BW's Tidewater yard on 11/10, and
2 visited LO's N Beaver Creek yard on 10/22. A NORTHERN FLICKER with
yellow shafts appeared at Sunnyridge Road south of Toledo on 11/16 (CP).
The yellow-shafted intergrade flicker remained in WN&RC's Wandemere yard
as of 11/20. A PILEATED WOODPECKER whose call cheered BLo's South Beach
neighborhood seems to have a repetitive route through his yard.
R&DR discovered a SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER at Salishan spit on
11/9; it remained there through 11/11, finding plenty of insects and
occasionally sallying up and out over the dry sand (DF, PS, AC, SS, NS,
FS, OFOBW, OAHJ, AS, CB).
OFOBW spotted an AMERICAN DIPPER behind Rose Lodge store on 11/9-10.
A SWAINSON'S THRUSH ended its late migration against a window of
BLo's South Beach house on 10/31. The 1st VARIED THRUSH of fall visited
J&KC's yard 4 mi E of Waldport on 11/4; BLo flushed another from the Lost
Creek bluff-front grasses on 11/2, and SaL was seeing a few Varieds on
the Cape Perpetua Overlook Trail as of 11/5.
On 11/21, a distinctive 'pit-ti-chuck' call led Eric Horvath to a
female SUMMER TANAGER in his South Beach back yard.
A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW visited J&KC's yard 4 mi E of Waldport on
10/21-22; in RC's Wandemere yard, 3 of differing plumage appeared from
10/16 to 10/30. A GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW came to RF's Newport yard on
11/3.
Up to 4 winter or juvenile WESTERN MEADOWLARKS flew from the grass S
of the Newport Airport for BLo on 11/2, the same day another was in the
grass along the Lost Creek bluff front (BLo), MN found another at the
entrance to Fox Creek residential area on 11/4, 2 flew through the brush
near HMSC USFWS building on 11/7 (JGr), WN&RC spotted another along Idaho
Flats on 11/9, and JGr saw another there on 11/14. AK finished off the
species list early in the period by seeing a SNOW BUNTING on the S
Sandpiper Village dunes on 10/25.
OBSERVERS: Tanya Bray, Sara Brown, Bird Guide Pelagic Trip (BGPT),
Bureau of Land Management staff at YHONA (BLM), Christopher Butler,
Alan Contreras, Todd Dunkirk, Greg Gillson, Jill Grover, Darrel Faxon,
Roy Filby, Jeff Harding, Tom & Connie Herzig, Wayne Hoffman,
Eric Horvath, Anson Koehler, Janet Lamberson, Peter Lawson,
Sally Lockyear (SaL), Bob & Shirley Loeffel (B&SLo), Roy Lowe,
Kathy Merrifield, Jerry Morsello, Michael Noack, Bori Olla (BrO),
Bob Olson (BbO), Oregon Birders on Line (OBOL), Laimons Osis, Oregon
Association of Hyenas and Jackals West Linn Chapter incl. TS (OAHJ),
OSU seabird researchers' pelagic trip incl. GG & WH (OSUPT), Chuck Philo,
Dave Pitkin, Phil Pickering, Fred Pratt, Ruth & Don Roberts,
Floyd Schrock, Tim Shelmerdine, Jamie Simmons (JSi), Lars Skalnes,
Anne Southcott, Shawn Steinberg, Kit Struthers, Noah Strycker,
John Sullivan (JSu), Pat Tilley, Tuesday Birding Group: Carol Karlen,
Marilyn Van Dyk and PT (TBG), Pat & Bunny Wright. I don't edit names;
I just write 'em down. KM.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BIRD FIELD NOTES from the December 2002 Sandpiper 23(10)
by Kathy Merrifield
Abbreviations and some Lincoln Co. site locations: Bayshore
Beach=ocean beach along north Alsea Bay Spit, Beaver Creek=creek flowing
through Ona Beach State Park, Boone Slough=freshwater slough at about
mile 8.9 along north Yaquina Bay Road, Burnham Creek=creek flowing into
the NE corner of Alsea Bay; Captain Cook Trail: 2.4 mi inland from Cape
Perpetua USFS Visitors Center; Coquille Point=SE Corner of Sally's Bend,
Criteser Moorage=marina at about mile 10.2 along north Yaquina Bay Road,
Eckman Lake=lake 2 mi east of Waldport along Hwy 34, Eckman Slough=slough
between Alsea Bay and Eckman Lake, fide=reported to, Fox Creek=2 mi S of
Seal Rock SP on U. S. 101, Hidden Lake=3 mi N of Waldport west of Hwy
101, Hidden Valley=valley between Newport and Toledo accessible by
downward road at about mile 11.9 along north Yaquina Bay Road,
HMSC=Hatfield Marine Science Center, Idaho Flats=large embayment just
east of HMSC, Little Whale Cove=residential area 1 mi S of Depoe Bay,
Lost Creek SP=part about 4.75 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge, Marsh St.
marsh=marsh immediately E of Hwy 101 2 mi S of greater Seal Rock, Ona
Beach=state park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along Hwy 101
at Beaver Creek, PNW=Pacific northwest, Sallys Bend=large embayment east
of the LNG tank at Yaquina Bay, Sandpiper Village=residential areas west
of Hwy 101 and just north of Waldport, 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, USFS=US Forest Service,
USFWS=US Fish & Wildlife Service, Wandemere=about 0.5 mi north of Ona
Beach along Hwy 101, YBSJ=Yaquina Bay South Jetty.
* * * * * * * * * * *
CORRECTIONS
OK, get your laptop: this is too much for just pencil and paper.
RC & KS's November swan report was omitted from last month's notes, but
it does fit in nicely with the December sequence, don't you think? The
results of SB, B&SLo, LO's Beached Bird Survey reported in November were
from October but were consistently labeled "November;" a given calendar
month's survey results are reported in the Sandpiper of the following
month. I'll buy everyone a bottle of Sominex who lost sleep wondering
what "OFOBW" stands for. It was Oregon Field Ornithologists Birding
Weekend, led by PS.
It was ALMOST worth the frustration of making mistakes to experience
the kind courtesy of those who submitted corrections. Thank you, RB,
BLo, JS, and PS. Yes, I was out to lunch. It was quite tasty.
* * * * * * * * * * *
LOONS - SHEARWATERS
PP seawatched an average of 1.44 hours on each of 17 days during the
reporting period: numbers of all three regular loon species were highest
on 11/25, when 3000 RED-THROATED LOONS, 18,000 PACIFIC LOONS, and
100 COMMON LOONS flew S. JF, JS, & EH watched hundreds of Pacifics and
Red-throateds fly S off Yaquina Head on 11/23, and on 12/3, hundreds of
loons, along with murres and scoters, leapfrogged rafts with flight in
their southward progression off Wandemere (RC). JGr counted 20 Commons
in the mouth of Alsea Bay on 12/16, and on 11/29 near Boone Slough, JS
listened to what few in Oregon hear - a calling COMMON LOON.
Off Boiler Bay, numbers off WESTERN GREBES peaked at 80 on 11/30 and
RED-NECKED GREBES at 35 on 11/15; both flew S. PIED-BILLED GREBES graced
the Toledo area and Sally's Bend on 11/23 and the OCA log pond on 11/29
(JS); 6 fished Eckman Lake on 11/23 (KM). On 11/23, 2 RED-NECKED GREBES
swam off Yaquina Head (JS&JF) and 5 off Seal Rock (KM), another was off
Seal Rock on 11/29 (JS), and 9 rafted in the Sally's Bend channel on 12/1
(KM).
Following record low numbers of beached birds along 4.6 miles of
beach near Thiel Creek in 2002 so far, BLo wrote of November finds, "Well
the dam broke! The total for November was 234 or almost 1.5 times the
total for the previous 10 months. Of course the phalaropes were the big
story at 181 birds, but the 53 birds of other species was a big month for
this year." 35 NORTHERN FULMARS along with 1 SOOTY SHEARWATER and 1
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER were found dead there in November (SB, B&SLo, LO).
NORTHERN FULMAR numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 12/16, when 150, mostly
dark, flew S; a MANX SHEARWATER flew S there on 12/15 (PP).
* * * * * * * * * * *
PELICANS - SWANS
BROWN PELICAN numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 11/15, when 1000 flew
N (PP). On 11/23, JS observed BROWN PELICANS off Boiler Bay and Yaquina
Head, and 45/hr flew N off Yachats (KM). On 11/29, JS watched 119
pelicans fly WNW from an offshore rock. 100 pelicans gathered on
Salishan Spit on 12/10 increased to 400 on 12/11, and 580 flocked in
adjacent N Siletz Bay on 12/15 (PP). Up to 60 pelicans flew S between
Newport and Waldport on 12/12, 12/15, and 12/16 (JGr), on 12/16, SaL
counted 46 off Yachats, and on 12/18, MN watched good numbers battle
heavy winds E of Hwy 101 in their southward journey.
BRANDT'S CORMORANT numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 12/9, when 800
flew N (PP). 27 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS flew S off Boiler Bay on 11/22
(PP), at least 450 flew S off Wandemere on 11/23 (RC), and 85 flew S off
Bayshore Beach on 12/7 (DP).
Single GREAT EGRETS waded in S Siletz Bay on 11/23 (JS) and Idaho
Flats on 12/1, the same day 3 patrolled E Alsea Bay (KM); 1 visited a
creek E of Hwy 101 between Waldport and Yachats on 12/10 (JGr).
On 11/16, 7 swan sp. flew from E Sally's Bend up the Yaquina
embayments before following the river upstream (RC & KS). On 11/25,
4 TUNDRA SWANS -3 adults and 1 juvenile - flew from the Alsea River into
Eckman Lake for a food and rest stop; on 12/15, 2 juvenile Tundras
dropped into Eckman Lake to escape the storm (RL). 2 immature
TRUMPETER SWANS in Eckman Lake identified by DF on 12/16 were resighted
by RL on 12/17.
* * * * * * * * * * *
GEESE - DUCKS
Late fall and early winter Yaquina Bay BRANT counts vary because the
flock disperses, especially at high tide. Counts of 120 on both 11/23
(JF & JS) and 11/29 (JS) were the highest; counts of 75 on 12/1 (KM) and
20 on 12/16 (JGr) may have missed Brant at Sally's Bend. 6 Aleutian
CANADA GEESE flew S off Boiler Bay on 11/22 (PP). Among copious
waterfowl in Beaver Creek on 1/18, LO found a probable CANADA GOOSE X
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and also read 1 goose collar, 263R.
20 WOOD DUCKS hid in Hidden Lake on 12/9 (JGr). Among the Idaho
Flats AMERICAN WIGEON flock, numbering 1650 on 12/1 (KM), JF, JS, & EH
noted 4 EURASIAN WIGEONS; JF & JS also spotted 2 in Sally's Bend and 4 in
Siletz Bay, all on 11/23. LO found another Eurasian in Beaver Creek on
12/18. 150 NORTHERN PINTAILS joined 1300 AMERICAN WIGEONS in E Alsea Bay
on 12/1 (KM).
3 REDHEADS along with CANVASBACKS joined the Sally's Bend flock on
11/23, and CANVASBACKS joined RING-NECKED DUCKS and GREATER SCAUP near
Toledo on 11/23 (JS & JF). 900 Scaup spp. flocked in Sally's Bend on
12/1 (KM).
SURF SCOTER numbers off Boiler Bay peaked on 11/22, when over 1000
flew S; numbers of WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS peaked at 120 and BLACK SCOTERS
at 850; both flew S on 12/15 (PP). 376 Surfs/hr flew S in flocks
averaging 31 off Seal Rock on 11/23 (KM). 550 Surfs rafted with 400
White-wingeds and 12 Blacks off Yachats on 11/23, the same day 260 Blacks
rode the swells N of Yaquina Head; on 12/1, 180 Surfs and 170 Blacks
neck-stretched off Seal Rock (KM). 7 HARLEQUIN DUCKS flew N off Boiler
Bay on 11/25 (PP), a female was off Seal Rock on 11/29 (JS.); on 11/30,
6 Harlequins sloshed in the surf between Seal Rock reefs (RC), on 12/16,
2 males attended YBSJ (JGr), and on 12/19, MN watched 2 pairs at Seal
Rock. A LONG-TAILED DUCK flew S off Boiler Bay on 11/22 (PP).
COMMON GOLDENEYES continued in Sally's Bend on 11/23 (JS), and 60
were there on 12/1 (KM). Many of the 900 BUFFLEHEADS in Sally's Bend the
same day courted (KM). JF & JS found 3 HOODED MERGANSERS in the Toledo
area on 11/23 and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS in both Sally's Bend and Alsea
Bay the same day. 13 Hoodeds were in Boone Slough on 11/29, and 1 marked
the mouth of Burnham Creek in Alsea Bay (KM). 4 COMMON MERGANSERS glided
through Eckman Lake waters on 11/23, and JS spotted 2 males and 3 females
behind a Toledo gas station on 11/29.
On 11/29, 60 RUDDY DUCKS swam among scoters off Boiler Bay (GG); PP
has never seen Ruddies on the ocean during years of observation (fide
GG).
* * * * * * * * * * *
HAWKS - RAILS
2 WHITE-TAILED KITES flew together near Boone Slough on 11/29 (JF &
JS). As of 11/22, RL & DP were observing NORTHERN HARRIERS pluck those
tasty RED PHALAROPES from Idaho Flats. An adult BALD EAGLE patrolled
Idaho Flats on 11/23 (JF & JS), and another flew over 101 between
Waldport and Yachats on 12/10 (JGr).
A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK camped outside RL's HMSC office as of 11/22.
JS noted a COOPER'S HAWK in the South Beach area on 11/23, PL watched 2
AMERICAN CROWS chase an adult Cooper's outside his HMSC office window, CP
saw a subadult Cooper's in Newport on 12/13, and another flew across
RC&WN's Wandemere yard on 12/4; STELLER'S JAYS are minimally cautious of
Sharp-shinneds but hid for an hour following the Cooper's pass (RC). The
resident Sharp-shinned zoomed through Wandemere on 11/24 (WN), and
another flew over 101 at Seal Rock on 12/4 (RC).
On 12/19, crows harassed a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK along the Idaho Flats
Nature Trail (RF). JF & JS spotted a dark PNW-race MERLIN in Idaho Flats
on 11/23. A PEREGRINE FALCON preyed on phalaropes in Idaho Flats as of
11/21 (RF). A Peregrine flew over PL's house above the Newport bayfront
on 12/17.
About 10 MOUNTAIN QUAIL celebrated Thanksgiving at WH's South Beach
home on 11/28. JF, JS, & EH detected up to 3 VIRGINIA RAILS in Idaho
Flats on 11/23.
* * * * * * * * * * *
SHOREBIRDS
At Depoe Bay on 11/30-12/1, 29 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS gathered at high
tide (GG); at Seal Rock on 11/23, an audience of 3 watched a fourth
perform the Piping Display (neck forward, arched down; wings spread and
fluttering while calling), a greeting and dominance rather than courtship
rite (KM). 8 oystercatchers picked among the rocks there on 11/30 (RC).
On 11/23, JF & JS found a ROCK SANDPIPER in Depoe Bay SP. M&PN
sorted 3 ROCK SANDPIPERS out of SURFBIRDS and BLACK TURNSTONES while
DUNLIN flocks flitted around YBSJ on 11/30, the same day a group of
4 ROCK SANDPIPERS among BLACK TURNSTONES in Depoe Bay SP posed
picture-perfect for SM.
2 COMMON SNIPES revealed themselves in Idaho Flats to JF, JS, & EH
on 11/23, as did a lone snipe in Boone Slough on 11/29 (JS). A snipe in
CD's Beverly Beach yard repeatedly lawn-stabbed the lawn for prey on
12/11.
181 phalarope spp. were found dead along 4.6 miles of beach near
Thiel Creek in November (SB, B&SLo, LO). BLo writes, "Presumably the
phalaropes were reds, but I have never sorted these birds by species
because of the tattered condition in which a lot of the birds are found."
RED PHALAROPE numbers off Boiler Bay peaked at over 800 on 11/25 (PP).
JF, JS, & EH spotted 19 Reds in Idaho Flats and 5 in Siletz Bay on 11/23,
hundreds were off Boiler Bay from 11/29-12/2 (GG), 1 was on HMSC grounds
and 5 at YBSJ on 12/16 (JGr), and a few remained in Fox Creek ponds and
the Marsh St. marsh as of 12/18 (MN).
* * * * * * * * * * *
GULLS - ALCIDS
8 HEERMANN'S GULLS flew S off Boiler Bay on 11/25 (PP), and a lone
Heermann's flew S off Yaquina Head on 11/23, the same day 2 rested among
360 other gulls in the Yachats River Mouth (KM). 20 BONAPARTE'S GULLS
flew S off Boiler Bay on 11/25 (PP), single Bonaparte's joined
15 MEW GULLS in Idaho Flats on 12/1 and 70 Mews off Yachats on 11/23
(KM), and a storm-driven Bonaparte's plied an Adobe Motel puddle in
Yachats on 12/16 (SaL). An adult SLATY-BACKED GULL visited Siletz Bay
near Cutler City on 11/27 (MM). Off Boiler Bay on 12/16, WESTERN GULL
and GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL numbers both peaked at 500, and CALIFORNIA GULLS
peaked at 100; all drifted S (PP). 60 HERRING GULLS on a Siletz Bay
sandbar on 12/9 increased to 1000 on Salishan Spit on 12/10 and 1200 in N
Siletz Bay on 12/11 (PP). THAYER'S GULLS joined other gulls in Idaho
Flats on 11/23 (JS), and multiple Thayer's and Herrings gathered at Ona
Beach on 12/1, the same day Thayer's and Herrings rested in the Yachats
River mouth (AC). MEW GULLS off Boiler Bay peaked on 11/25, when 150
flew S; Salishan Spit hosted 200 Mews on 12/10, and by 12/11, 300 mostly
Mews were there (PP).
6 murre sp., 1 PIGEON GUILLEMOT, 2 CASSIN'S AUKLETS, and 1
RHINOCEROS AUKLET were found dead along 4.6 miles of beach near Thiel
Creek in November (SB, B&SLo, LO). Off Boiler Bay on 12/9, numbers of
COMMON MURRES peaked at 40,000 flying N, RHINOCEROS AUKLETS at 100 flying
both directions, and MARBLED MURRELET at 23 flying S; numbers of
PIGEON GUILLEMOTS peaked on 12/15 at 6 and ANCIENT MURRELETS on 11/30 at
90; and up to 2 CASSIN'S AUKLETS were present on 6 seawatch days (PP).
GG found ANCIENT MURRELETS conspicuous in the surf at Boiler Bay from
11/29-12/2. A few hundred COMMON MURRES joined the southward
leapfrogging seabird flock off Wandemere on 12/3 (RC).
* * * * * * * * * * *
DOVES - WARBLERS
A single MOURNING DOVE remained at MN's Fox Creek feeder on 12/17.
During the 12/12 warm, calm night before the storm, GREAT HORNED OWLS
hooted from the hillside near SK's Toledo home. At Thornton Creek on
12/19, a BARRED OWL flushed from thinned 20-year-old Douglas fir examined
DF from a tree just 40 ft away.
JS saw a female ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD south of Waldport on 11/28 and
hear 2 more singing.
A RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER South Beach on 11/24 (EH). A PILEATED
WOODPECKER enjoyed a late apple still on the tree in BW's Tidewater yard
on 11/26. Yep, she read in field guides, woodpeckers really do eat fruit
at times! On 11/24, an immature NORTHERN SHRIKE greeted CP 3 miles north
of Toledo. A pair of GRAY JAYS joined WN for a hike along the Cape
Perpetua Captain Cook Trail on 11/29.
On 11/23, the South Beach area hosted lots of WRENTITS (JF, JS, &
EH). RC, accustomed only to their skulking darts through dense brush,
wrote on 11/29, "WRENTITS CAN fly!" after 1 chose the longest (75 ft)
intershrub route across her Wandemere lawn. JS ferreted out a
BROWN CREEPER in the Toledo area on 11/23 as well as a hat trick of
BEWICK'S WRENS, WINTER WRENS, and MARSH WRENS.
VARIED THRUSHES move down from the forested hills when the weather
turns cold. After feasting on wax myrtle berries on 11/23, a pair
frequenting RF's wooded Newport property toppled over, unable to stand.
Yes, they were drunk - a not uncommon phenomenon among eaters of fruit,
which can ferment during the cooler months. RC noted the first pair of
Wandemere VARIED THRUSHES on 11/21, a pair was established in GB's Little
Whale Cove forested yard as of late November, and many, along with
HERMIT THRUSHES, occupied the South Beach area on 11/23 (JF, JS, & EH),
as did HERMIT THRUSHES along S Siletz Bay the same day (JS). JGr wins
the VARIED THRUSH jackpot - several were at Hidden Lake on 12/9, and 8
visited her Sandpiper Village yard on 12/8.
JS found a PALM WARBLER for JF & EH to admire near Sally's Bend on
11/23.
* * * * * * * * * * *
SPARROWS - FINCHES
RC's Wandemere FOX SPARROW count reached 8 as of 11/24, when many
were ensconced in the South Beach area (JF, JS, EH). CP saw a
SWAMP SPARROW in Toledo on 11/24, and he and JS found one in the same
area on 11/29, when JS also enjoyed LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, SONG SPARROWS,
and FOX SPARROWS behind a Toledo gas station and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS
along Boone Slough. The 12/8 "bounty of DARK-EYED JUNCOS and Chickadees"
in JGr's Sandpiper Village yard was a representative example of many good
habitats in late fall. As of 11/24, RC gave up trying to count the
juncos but estimated the Wandemere breakfast flock at over 50.
JF & JS observed WESTERN MEADOWLARKS along Idaho Flats on 11/23, as
did JS on 11/29. During the week of 12/10, a meadowlark manipulated a
motionless, perhaps dead, praying mantis about 8 ft outside DP's USFWS
HMSC office window. Also brightening the short days were 2 AMERICAN
GOLDFINCHES at JGr's Sandpiper Village feeder on 12/15.
OBSERVERS: Gloria Baum, Range Bayer, Sara Brown, Alan Contreras,
Carol DeLancey, Darrel Faxon, Roy Filby, Joe Fontaine, Eric Horvath,
Greg Gillson, Jill Grover (JGr), Wayne Hoffman, Steve Kupillas,
Peter Lawson, Sally Lockyear (SaL), Bob (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel,
Roy Lowe, Sylvia Maulding, Mike Marshall, Kathy Merrifield, Harry Nehls,
Walt Nelson, Michael Noack, Michael & Petra Nomina, Laimons Osis,
Chuck Philo, Phil Pickering, David Pitkin, Jamie Simmons, Kit Struthers,
Paul Sullivan, Bunny Wright.
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