These field notes are from the Sandpiper, a publication of Yaquina Birders & Naturalists, Lincoln County, Oregon. This group is independent of the Audubon Society of Lincoln City.
Comments about abundance or seasonality refer only to LINCOLN COUNTY.
Many Lincoln Co. birding sites are in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide.
Semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 are in 1995 Journal of Oregon Ornithology 4:395-543 that is archived at ScholarsArchive@OSU (http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070).
------------------------------- Month of Sandpiper, Volume 29 ------------------------------- January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008
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Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations: BEAVER CREEK: creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park, BOILER BAY: State Wayside about 0.5 mi north of Depoe Bay, HMSC: OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of HMSC, LNG TANK: large green Liquefied Natural Gas tank on the north side of Yaquina Bay about 1.5 miles east of Yaquina Bay Bridge, ONA BEACH: State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, SALLY'S BEND: large Yaquina Bay embayment east of the LNG tank, SEAL ROCK STABLES PASTURE: pasture at about Milepost 1.6 along South Beaver Creek Road, SOUTH BAY: Yaquina Bay mudflats south of Sally's Bend, WANDEMERE: about 0.5 mi north of Ona Beach State Park near HWY 101, YBSJ: Yaquina Bay South Jetty.
Count Compiler RC reports:
"A record 35 field observers turned out for the Yaquina Bay CBC, despite a grim weather forecast. But once again our good luck held! By daybreak the lightning and hail had stopped, winds quieted to only 25 mph or so, and the forecast deluges held off until 3:45 PM. The most dramatic remnant of the previous night's storm was enormous surf on the beaches and jetties, with seas running 25-30 ft on top of an 8 ft; high tide in mid-morning. Coastal observers sensibly stayed off the beaches (what beaches?) until later in the day.
"We tallied 133 species, near the record for this Count! Best I can figure, our record was 136 in the 2004 count. That was the year of Greg's pelagic trip. [About 1/2 of the Yaquina Bay CBC Count Circle is offshore.]
"Good finds included a single BROWN PELICAN on the Yaquina River at Toledo (doubtless blown inshore the previous night); SHEARWATER sp.; LONG- TAILED DUCK; RED-SHOULDERED HAWK; RUFFED GROUSE; WHIMBREL; ROCK SANDPIPER; RED-PHALAROPE; GLAUCOUS GULL; BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE; COMMON MURRE; WESTERN SCREECH OWL; PILEATED WOODPECKER; GRAY JAY; WHITE-THROATED, CLAY-COLORED, and SWAMP SPARROWS; TREE SWALLOWS, BARN SWALLOWS, and LESSER GOLDFINCH.
"We had 4 additional Count Week species: NORTHERN HARRIER (worst miss on CBC), PIGEON GUILLEMOT, SAVANNAH SPARROW and WESTERN SCRUB-JAY.
"Many, many thanks to all our local stalwarts and especially to all the terrific visiting talent from Corvallis, Eugene and Bend!"
And a Big Thanks to RC for organizing and compiling the CBC and hosting the after-count social at her own expense. We appreciate your time and effort to put this together! Great job!
BLo completed the annual report for the 30th year of approximately weekly beached bird surveys along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach. Participants in 2007 surveys included B&SLo, L&VO, and BO.
They found beached birds each month, with a low in May-June (15-19) and the peak in November (176) and a second, lower peak in March (97).
In 2007, they found a total of 672 dead birds, about 150 above average. The most numerous species were NORTHERN FULMAR (228) and COMMON MURRE (132), RHINOCEROS AUKLET (71), and BRANDT'S CORMORANT (35).
Rare species included HORNED PUFFIN (16 in Jan.-March) and PARAKEET AUKLET (1 in March).
Thanks to BLo and his team of observers for doing this!
On 1/16, LO discovered 4 TUNDRA SWANS in a flooded field just past Milepost 3 along North Beaver Creek. The morning of 1/17 at JL's Newton Hill home about midway between Toledo and Siletz, she saw
"twelve big, beautiful white birds flying in a V-formation north over the hills west of my house as I was out feeding the goats. Swans? Snow geese? I didn't hear any calling, but the morning sun glinted off their brilliant white feathers against a dark cloud background - I should take binocs when I feed those goats!"
BB recognized a lost BRANT in the lawn of Yachts Inn south of Yachats on 1/21-22.
The peak of Brant at Yaquina Bay so far this winter is 182 on 1/18 (RB); none were then west of the Yaquina Bay Bridge, where they often appear during spring migration. Numbers seem to be at a plateau in January (see below). YB&N is a project partner of the International Brant Monitoring Project (IBMP) (http://www.padillabay.gov/brant/), and RB relays on sightings of significant numbers of Brant in Lincoln County to their Observation Log (see link on the left side of their web page).
Counts of Brant at Idaho Flats (I) or All (A) Yaquina Bay Embayments (Idaho Flats, Sally's Bend, and South Bay) by JL, RB, RL and KM. (Counts only at Idaho Flats may not record all overwintering Brant, though they may often only be there.)
175- II A
150- I A II A
125- III A II A
100- AIII A II A
75- AIII A II A
50- IAIII A II A
25- IAIAIII A II A
1-12- IAIAIII A II A
0- A IIAIAIII A II A
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Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr
An out-of-place Aleutian CACKLING GOOSE was at an Idaho Flats marsh near the HMSC on 1/22 (RL) and grazing in a lawn at the HMSC on 1/24 (PL).
The HARLEQUIN DUCK high count was of 3 at Boiler Bay on 1/10 (MW) and 4 at Seal Rocks on 1/16 (LO). One near the HMSC pumphouse on 1/28 (TW) is unusual for that area.
An EARED GREBE at Devil's Lake on 1/1 (RN) and at Boiler Bay on 1/10 (MW) were our only records away from Yaquina Bay, where they usually are reported.
Presumably the same BROWN PELICAN spotted flying downstream from Toledo during the 1/5 CBC was at the Yaquina Bay Breakwater on 1/5 & 6 (HS). On 1/7, LH observed one at the YBSJ near where gulls were being fed bread; it approached to within about 10 feet, so it may have been hungry. We have had other years with January records (SemiL).
A sign of changing seasons! JL detected a PELAGIC CORMORANT with the white flank patch of breeding season on 1/10 at Yaquina Bay.
1 GREAT EGRET was at Alsea Bay in mid-January (MR), and 3 at were at Beaver Creek during the 1/19 YBNFT.
[Image Not Included: Kitty Brigham's July 19 photo of an adult Great Blue Heron at Ona Beach--a bump on a log between two bumps on a log.]
A WHITE-TAILED KITE was in the Oregon Coast Aquarium/HMSC area during at least 6 days in January, starting on 1/9 (BLl; JL; TW).
On 1/1, BO observed a pair of BALD EAGLES copulate and then linger side by side for about 20 minutes on the Yaquina Bay Breakwater near the Osprey nest site. About 4 miles east of Waldport, J&KC saw a Bald Eagle fly off with a cat in its talons on 1/28.
On 1/30, JL counted what may be the most Bald Eagles at once in Yaquina Bay--7 all at Idaho Flats (2 adults perched on a branch on the mudflat, 2 adults flying and scattering the ducks and brant, 2 juveniles perched on the mud, and 1 juvenile flying).
Pilings for perches for BALD EAGLES, or perhaps more appropriately for people to see eagles, have been installed at Sally's Bend--one near Coquille Point and another about halfway along the eastern side of Sally's Bend. Bald Eagles have been doing very well, but with the loss of a snag where they used to perch and easily be seen at Coquille Point, nonbirders may have seldom seen them.
There were a surprisingly large number of COOPER'S HAWK reports. Single Cooper's were near Embarcadero in Newport on 12/31 (BO), Logsden on 1/3 & 4 (BLl), Yaquina Heights in Newport (CP) and Yachats (BB) on 1/11, and Newport on 1/12 (TS). On 1/12, RL saw a juvenile male
"land in a tree outside my HMSC office. It was very wet and perched in the tree for 10-15 minutes trying to dry off. When it left the perch, it dove towards DG's bird feeder. When I went to her office it was on the ground about 2 feet from her window! It then proceeded to walk around her feeder and under the bush there looking around. What a great view of this bird! I went to get the camera, but of course it flew just as I got back to her office."
There were a few SHARP-SHINNED HAWK sightings, with RL noting that one on 1/31:
"went sailing past my office window at the HMSC, which is no big deal, but it was carrying a snake in it's talons! I doubt if there was much of a pursuit for the bird as it was raining and hailing. That's seems very early for a snake to be out."
A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was at HWY 101 at Ona Beach on 1/8 (BB), and, on 1/27, TS saw one at South Beach State Park and another in Yachats.
A RED-TAILED HAWK landed on the perch at the Osprey nesting platform at the Yachats Community Park on 1/27 (BB). Maybe the Osprey will nest there this year?
BLl counted 3 AMERICAN KESTRELS on wires near Logsden's Moonshine Park on 12/23. They are often hard to find in winter and have not yet been recorded during this winter's Raptor Route (see following).
The January Lincoln Co. raptor route was conducted on 1/20 by JL, WN, and RC. The route runs from Alsea Bay north to Lincoln City, inland following HWY 229 to Siletz and Toledo, and along the Yaquina River back to Newport.
In spite of searching, the total number (27) of raptors was the fewest of any previous survey and was markedly down from the December total of 50.
Oregon Winter Raptor Surveys are coordinated by the East Cascades Birds Observatory (ECBC) (http://www.ecbcbirds.org/Default.aspx?tabid=73).
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Dec-Feb.__________________
Lincoln Co. 2004- 2007 2008
Raptor Route 2007* 12/8 1/20
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Turkey Vulture 0-1 0 0
No. Harrier 0-5 3 1
White-t. Kite 0-3 1 2
Sharp-shin. Hawk 0-2 0 0
Cooper's Hawk 0-4 2 0
Accipiter sp. 0-1 0 0
Red-should. Hawk 0-2 0 0
Red-tail. Hawk 10-22 24 14
Bald Eagle ad. 2-22 14 7
" " subadults 1-5 2 1
" " unknown 0-2 0 0
" " total 4-27 16 8
Merlin 0-1 0 0
Am. Kestrel 0-5 0 0
Peregrine Falcon 0-3 4 2
RAPTOR SUM 29-62 50 27
Counts 3 1 1
Miles 117-121 119 118
Hours 6.5-8 8 7.5
* Ranges for Dec.-Feb. periods in 2004-2005, 2005-2006, and 2006-2007. See Feb. 2007 Sandpiper for ranges each winter; individual counts are in earlier Sandpipers.
KM did a count of AMERICAN COOTS at Yaquina Bay and found 240 on 1/5. This is a marked increase from a few years ago, but still fewer than she found in 1993/1994.
MR discovered a lonely SEMIPALMATED PLOVER at Yaquina John Point near Waldport on 1/1; we have had occasional winter records before (SemiL).
During inland freezing weather, we have had flocks of Killdeer show up along the coast, but there were no reports of such flocks this month with ice and snow inland.
The most BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS reported were 2 at Seal Rocks on 1/15 (KB) and 1/19 (YBNFT). We haven't had any reports of large flocks this winter, but this may be from not looking at the right time and place. If you see concentrations of 10 or more anywhere along the Oregon Coast, please email researcher Elise Elliott-Smith (eelliott-smith@usgs.gov).
A GREATER YELLOWLEGS was at Seal Rock Stables on 1/23 (LO). A WHIMBREL lingered during the 1/5 Yaquina Bay CBC and at South Beach State Park on 1/7 (TS).
RN examined a GLAUCOUS x GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL at Road's End north of Lincoln City on 1/1, and a Glaucous Gull was at Newport's Nye Beach in early Jan. (CA) and at Mooloch Beach north of Yaquina Head on 1/17-18 (SF).
A GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL captured and apparently tried to drown a female BUFFLEHEAD at the YBSJ on 1/5, but she managed to escape (J&KF).
A rare PARAKEET AUKLET that collided with a boat mast at the 40 fathom line off Yachats on 1/3 or 4 was brought for rehab to the Oregon Coast Aquarium by a fisherman (fide RC). It appeared to be unreleasable because of its injuries (fide RC). RC volunteered to send a report about it to the Oregon Bird Records Committee.
1 ANCIENT MURRELET was dead along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach in Dec. (B&SLo, L&VO), and 1-2 lives ones were at Boiler Bay on 1/1 (RN) and 1/10 (MW).
WH spotted a rare HORNED PUFFIN flying north about 300 yards off Yachats on 1/21.
[Image Not Included: Janet Lamberson's Nov. 27 photo of an unbanded Burrowing Owl amongst boulders of the YBSJ. The short vertical lines are rain drops. Janet was properly distant--she took the photo with a 10X lens, and the photo has been greatly enlarged.]
ED's family found a small owl along the YBSJ on Nov. 25. ED happened to mention it to RB, and its description fit a BURROWING OWL. Her daughter, Brianna a Newport 7th Grader, was thrilled to talk about it to her class.
It was in about the same location as the one that caused so much turmoil last winter after it was released (see Feb. and April 2007 Sandpipers). It also allowed the approach of people to within about 20 ft (ED) and thus appeared somewhat too tame, like the one last winter.
But it is not certain if this is the same owl. This owl was not banded, but the one released last winter by Chintimini Wildlife Rehabilitation Center near Corvallis was not banded because they had been federally directed to not band rehabbed birds.
Nevertheless, last year's Burrowing Owl was seen by many, and we have had them previously, so RB did not widely publicize its location to avoid repeating last winter's experience with people too closely approaching and feeding it.
Viewing wildlife without disturbance is recommended (see ethics-b.htm). The American Birding Association's (ABA) "Principles of Birding Ethics" (http://www.aba.org/bigday/ethics.pdf) states:
"Everyone who enjoys birds and birding must always respect wildlife, its environment, and the rights of others. In any conflict of interest between birds and birders, the welfare of the birds and their environment comes first."
If there was no need for this, the ABA would not have included it.
Let's leave wildlife wild!
The one last winter remained abnormally long to at least April 1. It does not appear to have lingered into Nov. because JL had been periodically looking for it earlier this fall, and ED noted that their family had walked in the YBSJ area earlier in the summer and fall and had not seen it, but it could have been missed.
This one was last reported on Nov. 30 (JL). It was not seen after the big Dec. 2-3 storms, though it was searched for daily during 12/5-8 (JL; RB; JL, RC, WN).
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS overwinter near the coast, and the freezing temps were of concern for those using feeders. To keep the liquid flowing, a feeder could be brought in at night or be close to a warm area such as an enclosed porch with an incandescent light bulb or spotlight. The mornings of 1/21-22, it got down to 26 F at Wandemere, and RC noted that in spite of keeping their feeders thawed and available that several Anna's were missing on 1/23. On 1/22 & 23 at their home about 4 miles east of Waldport, J&KC noted that Anna's had been collecting cotton for their nests, and
"Even with the freezing temperatures at night, by mid-day there are an amazing amount of small insects flying around which I'm sure are providing the hummers with some well- needed protein."
A NORTHERN FLICKER with yellow- or orangey (not red) shafts was at Wandemere from about Christmas to at least 1/10 (WN & RC), CP's Toledo home on 1/3, at Idaho Point in South Beach on 1/7 (TS), and at the HMSC on 1/12 (JL). The Wandemere male is a hybrid that RC describes as having
"all markings like a typical red-shafted, except it has a few red feathers on the nape. Not a chevron, more of a smudge. The wing and tail linings are also more orangey than red."
2 GRAY JAYS were in BB's neighborhood in Yachats during early and mid-Jan. On 1/7, CP saw a WESTERN SCRUB-JAY at NE 7th in Newport.
On 1/11, DF beheld a loose flock of 25 COMMON RAVENS fly over his Thornton Creek home between Toledo and Eddyville. That is a remarkably high number. Along the coast, usually only 1-2 are noted; they are more common inland.
Swallows are unseasonal in winter, especially as the weather this winter has been inclement. TREE SWALLOWS have been recorded in January once before with a Tree or a Violet-green also seen one January (SemiL). But for records through 1992, we had no January records for BARN SWALLOWS, and only 2 records of them during Nov.-Feb. (SemiL).
This winter, LO had 2 Trees at Seal Rock Stables on 1/3, where he had spotted an unidentified swallow on 12/18. During the 1/5 Yaquina Bay CBC, 3 Trees (all young birds) and 2 unaged Barns were at Seal Rock Stables (fide RC). About a quarter mile north of D River in Lincoln City, FS saw 3 Barn Swallows on 1/20 and at least 7 the morning of 1/21. On 1/20, the Raptor Route observers (JL, WN, and RC) saw 3 Barn Swallows (including 1 adult and 1 with a pale-breast and short tail streamers) and 1 adult male and one brownish Tree Swallow at a marsh and wet pasture less than a half mile north of Alsea Bay and 5 unaged Tree Swallows at Seal Rock Stables. On 1/23, LO saw "numerous Tree Swallows and some Barn Swallows" flying over the flooded pasture at Seal Rock Stables.
So Tree and Barn Swallows lingered. But as Aristotle observed "one swallow doth not a Spring make" (http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Theophrast.htm).
WESTERN BLUEBIRDS are usually only reported here in winter after freezing weather. This winter is no exception. On 1/24, DD saw one on the ocean front cliffs of Little Whale Cove south of Depoe Bay. On 1/28 with snow, DF saw one with Hermit and Varied Thrushes and American Robin at his Thornton Creek home between Toledo and Eddyville.
The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW discovered along the HMSC Nature Trail during the 1/5 CBC was found there the next day by the "Bend Birders" (fide RC) and on 1/18 (SF).
A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was with 10 White-crowned Sparrows in EH's yard at South Beach on 1/10.
A Slate-colored DARK-EYED JUNCO was in LO's north Beaver Creek driveway during the 1/5 CBC, and a female was at RC & WN's Wandemere feeder on 1/21.
On 1/14, TS found 2 SNOW BUNTINGS in dunes between YBSJ and South Beach State Park. Our only other report of them this winter was of one flying about 200 yards offshore of Boiler Bay on 11/11 (PP).
The high counts of WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were 5-8 at the HMSC on 1/7 & 12 (DG; JL). One at a log landing with 4 inches of snow at Thornton Creek on 1/19 & 28 (DF) seems particularly out-of-place.
PINE SISKINS have been numerous again at feeders at Beaver Creek (LO) and Yachats (BB).
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Cindy Ashy, Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Kitty Brigham, Rebecca Cheek, Jorrie & Ken Ciotti (http://www.birdsamore.com), Elizabeth Daly, Dick Demarest, Jim & Karan Fairchild, Darrel Faxon (some of DF's bird records are at bird.htm#thornton_creek), Shawneen Finnegan, Dawn Grafe, Louise Hemphill, Wayne Hoffman, Eric Horvath, Janet Lamberson, Pete Lawson, Bob Llewellyn (BLl), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Kathy Merrifield, Russ Namitz, Walt Nelson, Bob Olson, OBOL (Oregon Birders On Line; see http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Chuck Philo, Phil Pickering, Maggie Rivers, Floyd Schrock, Trent Seager, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive@OSU), Howard Shippey, Tom Wainwright, Monika Wieland, Yaquina Birders & Naturalists Field Trip (YBNFT led by LO).
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There are too many sightings to report them all. The number of field notes and photos varies as I received 36 pages of notes and 1 bird photo last month. This month I received 49 pages of notes. Only sightings that seemed particularly noteworthy are included here. This month I also received 21 photos. Unfortunately, there is not room for them all. It is wonderful to receive sightings and photos, and they are useful for Lincoln County records! Thanks to all the contributors for sharing and for your patience if your sightings or photos were not included!
Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations: BEAVER CREEK: creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park, ECKMAN LAKE: lake 2 mi east of Waldport along HWY 34, HMSC: OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of HMSC, LNG TANK: large green Liquefied Natural Gas tank on the north side of Yaquina Bay about 1.5 miles east of Yaquina Bay Bridge, ONA BEACH: State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, SALLY'S BEND: large Yaquina Bay embayment east of the LNG tank, SEAL ROCK STABLES PASTURE: pasture at about Milepost 1.6 along South Beaver Creek Road, YBSJ: Yaquina Bay South Jetty.
On Jan. 19, JS saw two BRANT with leg bands at Idaho Flats, near the HMSC Nature Trail shelter. JS notes that there may have been more banded Brant. He adds "These are relatively easy to read leg bands (compared to other bands I've seen): large bands with white characters on a dark background." Their numbers were 6V9 and 6ZV.
RL of the USFWS referred JS' report to David Ward (dward@usgs.gov), who works with Brant. David replied that Brant with these codes had black bands with white characters, yellow with white characters, or white with black characters. JS' description fits black bands with white characters. David writes, "Black-6V9 was banded as an adult female in July 2006 on Kikigak Island on the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska. Black-6VZ was banded as an adult male in the same year and location. It is likely that these birds are paired, but we could not determine this at the time of banding."
Evidently, these 2 Brant are still hanging out near each other. Try looking to see if you find them or other banded Brant! If you see any banded ones, please report them! We are curious to know where birds here are from!
Brant abundance at Yaquina Bay embayments has been at a plateau of 165-182 Brant on 1/18, 2/4 & 15 (RB). No reports yet of any Brant west of the Yaquina Bay Bridge, where they often appear during spring migration. YB&N is a project partner of the International Brant Monitoring Project (IBMP) (http://www.padillabay.gov/brant/), and RB relays on sightings of significant numbers of Brant in Lincoln County to their Observation Log (see link on left side of their web page).
TUNDRA SWANS generally do not linger and are generally uncommon here- -but not this winter. Starting with VA's Nov. 25 observation of 1 near Seal Rock Stables, as many as 4 have been spotted, mostly in the Beaver Creek area. In Feb., singletons were reported just north of Ona Beach State Park on 2/4 (G&JS) and near the Stables on 2/6-7 (BH; DD & DSt).
On 2/9, LO and WH each identified a TRUMPETER SWAN near Seal Rocks Stables. They identified it based on head characteristics (see photo). It can be hard to find when it is behind vegetation, and it is on private property, so please don't block their driveway. It has often been on the north side. This appears to be the most seen Trumpeter in Lincoln Co., as they usually are one-day wonders. It was also reported on 2/14-15 (LO; SF), 2/17 (MN), the 2/21 Portland Audubon field trip (DD), 2/25 (LO), and 2/29 (DSm & ME).
A swan appearing larger than others may not be a Trumpeter Swan. Male Tundras are larger than females and some Tundras found in Oregon can be much larger than typical for Tundras (1988 Oregon Birds 14:40-41). For example, the molting weight of one male Tundra was 22 pounds, though the male average is about 16 pounds (1988 Oregon Birds 14:41, http://www.trumpeterswansociety.org/id.htm).
[Image Not Included: Shawneen Finnegan's Feb. 15 photo of the head of a Trumpeter Swan emerging from the wet pasture/marsh on the north side of Seal Rock Stables. The Trumpeter Swan Society (http://www.trumpeterswansociety.org/id.htm) gives more info about separating Trumpeter and Tundra Swans than most field guides. The straight profile from the top of its head to its bill tip and its eye not appearing distinct from the bill help identify it as a Trumpeter. The Society indicates a Tundra has a top of head to bill tip profile that is down curved and an eye "usually distinct" from the bill.]
The most WOOD DUCKS reported this winter were 3 pairs at north Beaver Creek on 2/4 (LO). 1-3 EURASIAN WIGEON were at Beaver Creek during 2/2-15 (LO; DI; SF) and at Sally's Bend on 2/15 (RB) and 2/26 (CA). Our only REDHEADS were 1-2 at Beaver Creek on 2/9-13 (DI; LO) and Eckman Lake on 2/15 (RL).
As many as 5 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were at Seal Rocks on 1/19 (JS & MA), 2/2 (LO), and 2/9 (DD), with as many as 8 reported at the YBSJ during 2/7- 20 (BLl; RB; BBe and others).
SF found a female LONG-TAILED DUCK at the YBSJ (2/8) and Yaquina Head (2/10).
VO had our only RUFFED GROUSE at north Beaver Creek on 2/3.
16 WESTERN GREBES were the most numerous dead birds in Jan. along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). BLo started these surveys in January 1978, and the previous high for Western Grebes was 10 in 1981.
JL found a CLARK'S GREBE with Western Grebes at Yaquina Bay in mid- Feb.
KB saw 2 immature BROWN PELICANS flying in the Seal Rocks area on 2/21. Pelicans have been reported every month of the year, with the fewest sightings during Feb.-March (SemiL).
On 1/19, KB was tidepooling amongst the basalt outcroppings of the intertidal at Seal Rocks and saw a juvenile GREAT BLUE HERON foraging only about 12 ft away. Evidently, it was intent on its foraging and/or it has habituated to people at the Park. Herons are far warier where shooting occurs.
1-3 GREAT EGRETS were only reported at north and/or south Beaver Creek on 2/2, 4 & 25 (LO).
A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was heard calling in the darkness at the HMSC on 1/13 (RB). 2 graced the 2/23 YBNFT.
JP spotted the first TURKEY VULTURE at Toledo on 2/19 (fide BLo), and BH also saw one near Waldport on 2/21.
A single WHITE-TAILED KITE frequented the HMSC/Oregon Coast Aquarium area on 2/6-9 (DG; SF; RC & WN) and for the 2/23 YBNFT. During the 2/9 Raptor Route (see Table below), RC &WN also discovered one at Strome County Park (about 10 miles north of Siletz [http://www.co.lincoln.or.us/lcparks/strome.html]), Olalla Slough as seen from Toledo park at SE 10th, and near the LNG tank at Yaquina Bay.
BALD EAGLES were of almost daily occurrence at Yaquina Head in Jan. (BLM) and were often noted in February.
The large number of COOPER'S HAWK reports this winter continued in February in the South Beach area (DG; BLl; DSm & ME; BBe and others) and near Yachats (BB; KB).
A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK visited HS' neighborhood near the Newport Bayfront on 6 of the first 8 afternoons in Feb.
On 2/2, PW saw an immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK take an American Crow in east Seal Rocks. But it was unable to fly off with the crow and abandoned it after disturbance from a passing car. Goshawks are rarely reported, and PW was careful to note that in addition to its larger size that it had a white supercilium and uneven tail bands that distinguished it from a Cooper's. PW notes that it had been in the area for a couple of weeks.
A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was in north Beaver Creek on 1/19 (JS & MA) and near JCo's home 2 miles north of Siletz on 2/3 & 18.
[Image Not Included: Woody Ouderkirk's Feb. 9 photo of a pair of Bald Eagles perched in top of a large Sitka spruce near the Yaquina Bay South Jetty Road. Woody notes that Great Blue Herons and other birds also often perch on top of this tree.]
RL found our only MERLIN on 2/6 at the HMSC. 1-2 PEREGRINE FALCONS were often reported at several sites near the coast in late January and February (BLM; PW; V&ET; CP; LO).
[Image Not Included: Howard Shippey's Feb. 9 sunrise photo of a Peregrine Falcon carrying off a Rock Pigeon. The two birds had been flying over the Newport Bayfront, when the falcon caught the pigeon and, in flight, bent down to kill it by biting its neck.]
The February Lincoln Co. raptor route was conducted on 2/9 by WN and RC. The route runs from Alsea Bay north to Lincoln City, inland following HWY 229 to Siletz and Toledo, and along the Yaquina River back to Newport.
The total number (39) of raptors was up from last month and within the range of 9 counts during Dec.-Feb. in the 3 past winters. The biggest change from last month is that the number of Bald Eagles almost doubled. The number of kites also set a record high.
Oregon Winter Raptor Surveys are coordinated by the East Cascades Birds Observatory (ECBC) (http://www.ecbcbirds.org/Default.aspx?tabid=73).
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Dec-Feb.________________
Lincoln Co. 2004- 2007 2008_____
Raptor Route 2007* 12/8 1/20 2/9
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Turkey Vulture 0-1 0 0 0
No. Harrier 0-5 3 1 2
White-t. Kite 0-3 1 2 4
Sharp-shin. Hawk 0-2 0 0 0
Cooper's Hawk 0-4 2 0 1
Accipiter sp. 0-1 0 0 0
Red-should. Hawk 0-2 0 0 0
Red-tail. Hawk 10-22 24 14 14
Bald Eagle ad. 2-22 14 7 13
" " subadults 1-5 2 1 2
" " unknown 0-2 0 0 0
" " total 4-27 16 8 15
Merlin 0-1 0 0 0
Am. Kestrel 0-5 0 0 1
Peregrine Falcon 0-3 4 2 2
RAPTOR SUM 29-62 50 27 39
Counts 9 1 1 1
Miles 117-121 119 118 119
Hours 6.5-8 8 7.5 7.5
* Ranges for Dec.-Feb. periods in 2004-2005, 2005-2006, and 2006-2007. See Feb. 2007 Sandpiper for ranges each winter; individual counts are in earlier Sandpipers.
Snowy Owl 0-1 0 0 0 Burrowing Owl 0-1 0 0 0------------------------------------------------------
DD & DSt had our only BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, with 6 in a field in the Bayview Pasture area at the junction of South Beaver Creek Road and North Alsea Bay Road. In the past, some shorebirds used the field and swale to the east of that junction as a high-tide roost.
4 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS were at Yachats on 2/14 (SaL). The Portland Audubon field trip found 16 at Depoe Bay in one group (DD), and this was reported to oystercatcher researcher Elise Elliott-Smith (eelliott-smith@usgs.gov), who is interested in concentrations of 10 or more anywhere along the Oregon Coast.
A WHIMBREL was at the Yachats Community Wetlands Park on 1/31 (fide BBa) and the YBSJ on 2/29 (CA). SF discovered 2 ROCK SANDPIPERS under the Bridge at Depoe Bay on 2/11. The 2/23 YBNFT found about a dozen DUNLIN with 75 SANDERLINGS at Sally's Bend.
BONAPARTE'S GULLS are uncommon in Feb. (SemiL), but LO found one at the Newport Bayfront on 2/5.
A first-year GLAUCOUS GULL was detected at Mooloch Beach north of Yaquina Head on 2/10 (SF) and the YBSJ on 2/15 (SF). Another of unspecified age-class was in Lincoln City in mid-Feb. (BFl).
3 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES and 1 ANCIENT MURRELET were beached in Jan. along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). This is the highest January total for kittiwakes since these surveys began in 1978.
1-2 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS arrived on 2/12 at J&KC's feeders about 4 miles east of Waldport, on 2/17 at DG's Toledo feeder, and on 2/23 at RC and WN's feeder near Ona Beach. This is a good showing this early. Stragglers often appear in February, but most usually come in April and May.
A BARRED OWL was heard east of Idaho Point at Yaquina Bay on 2/14 (TS & CL) and at north Beaver Creek on 2/17 (LO).
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS were collecting fuzz from cattail flowers at L&JM's home east of Sally's Bend on 2/20. The first male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD arrived on 2/18 at J&KC's home about 4 miles east of Waldport and 3 days later at both RF & CG's Newport home and RC & WN's home just north of Ona Beach. The first female Rufous was reported on 2/23 by RC at their home, and RC notes that Anna's "largely move out around the time the Rufous begin to arrive, except for a couple of unobtrusive Anna's females that nest somewhere nearby."
A male yellow-shafted NORTHERN FLICKER that showed no indication of being a hybrid with a red-shafted flicker was regularly at CP's Toledo home during 2/3-9.
On 1/20, KB hiked the Gwynn Creek loop trail at Cape Perpetua and enjoyed "Draughts of fresh air and dappled sunlight up on Cook's Ridge. Then I heard a rustle of wings and a gorgeous PILEATED WOODPECKER landed on a tree trunk nearby!" A pair of Pileated Woodpeckers has been at SK's home just north of Criteser's Moorage downstream of Toledo in early Feb.
As noted in last month's Sandpiper, TREE SWALLOWS and BARN SWALLOWS showed up unusually early in January, mostly near Seal Rock Stables. On 1/27, LO noted that it was 35 F and he had snow on the ground at his north Beaver Creek home, but yet there were swallows near the Stables! They were still there on 2/2 (LO). On 2/14, LO found a Barn Swallow near the Stables and writes "It's curious to me to see a number of swallows during the cold snap but now, during our February false spring, most of them have disappeared." On 2/15, SF saw a Tree Swallow near the Stables, but LO found no swallows there on 2/25.
[Image Not Included: January 31 photo provided by Jesica Haxel, science teacher at Siletz Valley School. It is of an American Crow with white feathers walking on a street in Siletz. The presence of such white feathers is often termed leucism. Crows with white feathers are occasionally reported here, with the white sometimes so extensive that a crow can appear like a magpie! The Cornell Ornithology Lab (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/OtherStrangeBirds.htm) indicates that a leucistic bird" has feathers that appear lighter than normal, as if the bird had been dipped in semi-opaque white paint," while albino birds have "absolutely no pigment in their feathers, bills, or legs, and their eyes appear red." But Cornell notes elsewhere that the distinction is less clear (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ivory/pastsearches/2005_2006/stories_reports_0506/leucism).]
AMERICAN DIPPERS are not often reported, especially in winter. However, they were singing in north Beaver Creek on 2/3 (EH), and along the Siletz River near BLl's Logsden home on 2/6-7.
WESTERN BLUEBIRDS are generally only reported here in winter after freezing temperatures and snow. This winter is no exception, and reports continued from late January, as noted in last month's Sandpiper, into February. 13 were counted at South Beach Fire Station near the Airport on 2/6 (CP), and 2-3 were at Yaquina Head on 2/9 & 13 (V&ET; RL).
A few AMERICAN ROBINS linger in winter, but CP was surprised by the sudden arrival of 43 at this Toledo yard on 2/21. This may represent movements within Lincoln County rather than immigration into the County, since LO observed large flocks of robins at Beaver Creek on 2/2.
JR first noted a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD in south Lincoln City on 1/3, and S&BF saw and photographed it on 2/11. It was also observed on 2/17 (ME).
The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW first found along the HMSC Nature Trail during the Yaquina Bay Christmas Bird Count was also found on 1/19 (JS & MA) and 2/18 (WH).
A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was at DG's Toledo feeder on 2/20 and a feeder near Criteser's Moorage downstream of Toledo in mid-Feb. (JL). A slate-colored DARK-EYED JUNCO lingered in Newport on 2/9 (SF).
PINE SISKINS have been common at KS's feeder in South Beach and elsewhere. But hundreds or more have not yet been reported like in a few winters.
4 LESSER GOLDFINCHES continued to dwell near L&JM's feeder near the east side of Sally's Bend through at least 2/20.
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Vikki Anderson, Mark Aron, Cindy Ashy, Betty Bahn (BBa), Range Bayer, Bob Bender (BBe), Kitty Brigham, Bureau of Land Management staff at Yaquina Head (BLM), Rebecca Cheek, Jorrie & Ken Ciotti (http://www.birdsamore.com), Joel Colvin (JCo), Dick Demarest, Mark Elliott, Roy Filby, Shawneen & Betty Finnegan, Bob Flores (BFl), Dawn Grafe, Cathy Grimm, Wayne Hoffman, Eric Horvath, Bettye Hunt, Dave Irons, Steve Kupillas, Janet Lamberson, Chris Langdon, Bob Llewellyn (BLl), Sally Lockyear (SaL), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Linda & John MacKown, Walt Nelson, Mark Nikas, OBOL (Oregon Birders On Line; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Chuck Philo, Laimons & Vicki Osis, John Paith, Paul Reed, Jeanette Reischman, Trent Seager, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive@OSU), Howard Shippey, Jamie Simmons, David Smith (DSm), George & Jackie Stankey, Don Stein (DSt), Keith Stratton, Vjera & Eddie Thompson, Pat Wood, Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (YBNFT Field Trip led by PR).
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Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations: BEAVER CREEK: creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park, ECKMAN LAKE: lake 2 mi east of Waldport along HWY 34, HMSC: OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of HMSC, LNG TANK: large green Liquefied Natural Gas tank on the north side of Yaquina Bay about 1.5 miles east of Yaquina Bay Bridge, ONA BEACH: State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, SALLY'S BEND: large Yaquina Bay embayment east of the LNG tank, SEAL ROCK STABLES PASTURE: pasture at about Milepost 1.6 along South Beaver Creek Road, YBSJ: Yaquina Bay South Jetty.
The number of overwintering BRANT at Yaquina Bay remained at a plateau of 165-182 during 1/18-3/10 to (RB; JL). The first recorded sign of their movement was on 3/4, when about 175 Brant were on the north shelf west of the Yaquina Bay Bridge, where they had been absent earlier in the winter (RB). The high count was 200-250 west of the Bridge on 3/14 (RB). On 3/19, RB only found 26 at Yaquina Bay, but the next 2 days JL saw about 110-120 and JH counted 89 on 3/22, so Brant appeared to be coming and going from Yaquina Bay. JL has been using photos with her 10X digital camera to count Brant and other waterbirds when they are moving around a lot--a great idea for censusing! YB&N is a project partner of the International Brant Monitoring Project (IBMP) (http://www.padillabay.gov/brant/), and RB relays on sightings of significant numbers of Brant in Lincoln County to their Observation Log (see link on the left side of their web page).
LO had our latest report of the TRUMPETER SWAN at Seal Rock Stables on 3/2--it may have been the most seen Trumpeter in Lincoln Co.
At a distance on dim winter days, GADWALLS can look nondescript, but the 3/21 YBNFT appreciated their plumage in good light with excellent views at Eckman Lake. The YBNFT was also surprised by a flock of 4 male COMMON MERGANSERS roosting together on an island in Eckman Slough, just north of Eckman Lake.
On 3/19, there apparently had been a herring spawn at Coquille Point at the east edge of Sally's Bend, since 500+ scoters and BUFFLEHEADS had congregated there like they do at herring spawns (RB).
5 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were at Seal Rocks on 3/1 (LO), and 2 were at Yaquina Head on 3/8 (CA). Our only LONG-TAILED DUCK was a male in lower Yaquina Bay on 3/16 (SS).
On 3/11, SK spotted a pair of PIED-BILLED GREBES in South Beach Marina, which is much saltier water than where they are normally found.
Highlights of the 3/1 Bird Guide pelagic trip from Newport included 8 LAYSAN ALBATROSSES, 1 MANX SHEARWATER, and many NORTHERN FULMARS in all color phases. Their trip report includes 22 photos and is at http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/archive/03012008.htm
In Feb., 17 NORTHERN FULMARS were beached along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). This is the highest Feb. total since BLo began that survey route in 1978. The previous high was 7 in 1991 and 1996. They also found 8 BRANDT'S CORMORANTS in Feb., which seems higher than usual.
Our only March BROWN PELICAN was an immature at Yaquina Head on 3/8 (CA). Reports should pick up in April. Since we also had reports in January and February, it is looking like we could have reports each month in 2008, since they are least likely in Jan.-March.
"Squawker" the Great Blue that calls almost continuously while flying flew by JL's office at the HMSC shortly after noon on 3/25. It was last reported last 8/23 (RB). Last summer, JL noted that it doesn't squawk every wing beat, just every fourth beat or so. After landing in a tree in 2006 (TW) and 2007 (JL), it stopped calling, so its frequent calling may only be while it is flying.
[Image Not Included: Howard Shippey's Jan. 25 photo of a Great Blue Heron facing the surf on the sandy beach south of the Yaquina Head Lighthouse (left). Herons are normally in calm waters, and it must be challenging to wade where a big wave could easily bowl one over. In Howard's photo on the right, water is running up this heron's leg. Howard wrote that this heron "had a hard time keeping from being swept off his feet a couple of times, and I wondered why he would endure this repeatedly -- well, as the waves rushed back out to sea, numerous [shrimp-like animals] were left behind or, as the heron might say, 'dinner.' "]
Our only GREAT EGRETS were 1-3 at Beaver Creek on 3/1-2 (LO) and 1 at Eckman Lake on 3/3 (MR).
JL spotted an adult BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON roosting in trees in lower Yaquina Bay on 3/5.
RL reported that the first OSPREY arrived at Eckman Lake on 3/18; one was perched on the nest there the next day. YBNFT participants on 3/21 watched 2 OSPREY flying and calling at Eckman Lake. While one was at the nest atop a power pole, the other brought in a fish.
A COOPER'S HAWK remaining at Yachats during 3/1-15 (BB) was our only report. They were common this winter.
In early March, JCr saw a MERLIN at Yachats, and a PEREGRINE FALCON was at Yaquina Head on 3/8 (CA).
A male and female AMERICAN KESTREL were hanging around near JCo's home 2 miles north of Siletz in mid-March, possibly to nest.
[Image Not Included: Janet Lamberson's March 16 photo of an adult Bald Eagle dining on a Brandt's Cormorant on a rock along her and Phil Lamberson's CoastWatch Mile beach near the Newport Airport in South Beach. The eagle caught the cormorant after it had washed ashore, alive, but probably weak. 2 Common Ravens "supervised" nearby, hoping for scraps.]
LO heard the "ti-dick" of VIRGINIA RAILS calling at lower Beaver Creek on 3/2.
Our high count of BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS was 6 at Yachats on 3/29 (BB).
TS viewed the WHIMBREL with the short-bill along the ocean beach at South Beach State Park on 3/24. It had been reported intermittently at the YBSJ this winter.
The flooded pastures of Seal Rock Stables along South Beaver Creek can be good for shorebirds as well as waterfowl, and LO found 40 DOWITCHERS there on 3/2. 30 SANDERLINGS near Seal Rocks on 3/3 (KB) were the most reported.
SS had our only ROCK SANDPIPERS (3) at the YBSJ on 3/16.
RL writes that a friend is color-marking and radio tagging WESTERN SANDPIPERS in Panama to document their migration routes. The birds will be marked with blue or green breasts. These birds could pass through here in coming weeks, so please report one with a blue or green breast to Roy_Lowe at fws.gov or directly to Dr. Pat Baird at pabaird at sfu.ca.
Our only BONAPARTE'S GULL was at Idaho Flats on 3/16 (SS). They should become common in April.
DI & NS found our first CASPIAN TERN (3) at the mouth of Alsea Bay on 3/20. TS had the next report at Yaquina Bay on 3/29. Prior to 1992, our earliest records were on 3/12 (1990) and 3/21 (1981), but most first reports were in April (SemiL).
The first report of COMMON MURRES landing on the nesting rocks at Yaquina Head was 3/5 (CS fide AB).
A BURROWING OWL was first reported here in 1969 (SemiL). We had 6 records in the 1970's, two records in the 1980's, and only one record in the 1990's (SemiL; FN). Until 2006, wings found in 2002 that were identified as being from a Burrowing Owl were our only record since 1992 (FN).
A Burrowing Owl was found in Newport at the Health and Wellness Center near the Les Schwab store in Nov. 2006. After erroneous information that they were very rare here and that this owl may have been a victim of being transported here by people was published in the Newport newspaper and not retracted, it attracted sympathy and a lot of attention from birders, photographers, and others.
However, it was too cute and it became too tame for its own good after it was fed and too closely approached. Because it had become so tame, it was thought to be ill, so it was captured. When brought to Chintimini Wildlife Rehabilitation Center near Corvallis, it was found to be very healthy. Because of all the human involvement at the site where it had been captured, it was released in an area away from people where Burrowing Owls had been found in past winters in Lincoln County. It was not banded because Chintimini had been federally directed not to do so. Accordingly, the released owl is not identifiable.
Shortly after release in Jan. 2007, a tame Burrowing Owl was sighted along the YBSJ, about 0.4 mile from the release site. In March, JL saw "somebody creeping up to it for a flash photo." It was last reported on April 1, but it may have remained later. Previously, the latest departure date was Feb. 10 in Lincoln County (SemiL) and Coos County (Alan Contreras' 1998 "Birds of Coos County, Oregon").
So this owl remained abnormally late, and it is not certain if this owl left or not. It may have lingered in the YBSJ boulder area and not been seen or reported.
A Burrowing Owl that also seemed tame was relocated in the same YBSJ area in late Nov. 2007, but was not widely publicized until early Feb. in the Jan. 2008 Sandpiper.
On 2/20, BBe, JM, and JA found a Burrowing Owl in the same general area along the YBSJ and reported it on OBOL. It was also seen on 2/21 (AD & RP).
If this is this is the same Burrowing Owl, it has survived 2 blustery winters, so it is hardy even though it seems relatively tame. But it has also lingered beyond what is normal in 2007 and 2008 and may never have left. Accordingly, it is uncertain if it may have returned to a Burrowing Owl population and nested.
If it is a different Burrowing Owl from the one that was released, then at least two Burrowing Owls have been here during the past two winters. So they may not be as rare here in recent years as our records indicate.
Let's leave wildlife wild! We can watch and enjoy from a distance, without seeing how close we can get.
While hiking the Discovery Trail at Cape Perpetua on 3/31, DS looked up and saw a rarely reported SPOTTED OWL (fide BB).
At Idaho Point between the eastern end of Idaho Flats and King Slough, TS heard a BARN OWL in Dec. On about 3/2, CT saw a BARN OWL being attacked by American Crows near the LNG tank, north across the Bay from Idaho Point. Barn Owls are rarely reported here, and the proximity of these two reports suggests that they may be the same owl or members of one pair.
On 3/18, LO heard a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL at his north Beaver Creek home and wondered if it would discover LO's screech owl nest box.
On 3/7, J&KC had about 4 dozen mostly RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS and some ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS coming to their 20 feeders about 4 miles east of Waldport. JC thinks that there were more hummers than in the past and writes that three of their feeders looked "like JFK International Airport just before dusk - hummers waiting for a spot to open, hummers sitting side-by-side sharing. It's so impressive. ... It sounds like a beehive outside all the windows." See JC's Quicktime video at http://www.birdsamore.com/videos/hummer-migration.htm
On OBOL, BLaB noted that hummingbird expert Abby Crouch wrote "Absolutely never use honey, brown sugar, saccharine or sugar substitutes. They spoil quickly and host a fungus that fatally infects Hummingbird's tongues and causes death by starvation." BLaB attended a talk by Crouch and learned that when hummingbirds are affected by fungus, their tongues swell, and they can no longer drink. BLaB writes "Over the last 6 years, there have been 3 different hummers that visited my feeders that were not able to retract their tongues. They eventually died, not able to feed themselves." BLaB adds that it is very important to be sure feeders are clean and free of mold and that the sugar water is mixed 1 to 4 and changed at least twice a week, as it begins to ferment and mold at 56-57 F.
Our first VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW report was on 3/1 at Seal Rock Stables (LO) and shortly thereafter in South Beach (EH).
A HERMIT THRUSH hovered while feeding at CL's Newport suet feeder for several weeks in March--a behavior they don't usually do. Migration is in the air as VARIED THRUSHES left BB's Yachats neighborhood by 3/24.
The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW first reported along the HMSC Nature Trail during 1/5 CBC continued to linger with reports on 3/2 (BT), 3/9 (SM), and 3/16 (SS). "Cassius" the Clay-colored Sparrow at L&JM's home near the east side of Sally's Bend, similarly lingered for several months, from late Dec. 2000 to March 27, 2001.
A SLATE-COLORED DARK-EYED JUNCO lingered to mid-March at CL's Newport home.
Another sign of spring in a March ending with some snow and ice was a WESTERN MEADOWLARK singing at the HMSC on 3/27 (RB).
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Jack Anderson, Cindy Ashy, Betty Bahn, Alan Barton, Range Bayer, Bob Bender (BBe), Kitty Brigham, Jorrie & Ken Ciotti (http://www.birdsamore.com), CoastWatch (a volunteer project monitoring one-mile segments of the Oregon coast), Joel Colvin (JCo), Jane Crowder (JCr), Ashley Dayer, Bird Guide Pelagic Trip (BGPT; info about pelagic trips, http://thebirdguide.com), Jeremy Henderson, Eric Horvath, David Irons, Steve Kupillas, Bev LaBelle (BLaB), Janet Lamberson, Cindy Lippincott, Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Linda & John MacKown, Sylvia Maulding, John Mundall, Field Notes (FN; Lincoln County records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are searchable at bird.htm#recent [all lower case letters]), OBOL (Oregon Birders On Line; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Ram Papish, Maggie Rivers, David Schlessinger, Stefan Schlick, Trent Seager, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive@OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Christine Smith, Noah Strycker, Bill Tice, Cynthia Trowbridge, Tom Wainwright, Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (YBNFT Field Trip led by RB).
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Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations: BEAVER CREEK: creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park, COQUILLE POINT: southeast corner of Sally's Bend at about mile 3.5 along north Yaquina Bay Road, ECKMAN LAKE: lake 2 mi east of Waldport along HWY 34, HMSC: OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of HMSC, LNG TANK: large green Liquefied Natural Gas tank on the north side of Yaquina Bay about 1.5 miles east of Yaquina Bay Bridge, ONA BEACH: State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, SALLY'S BEND: large Yaquina Bay embayment east of the LNG tank, THIEL CREEK: creek about 3.5 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge, THORNTON CREEK: about midway between Toledo and Eddyville along HWY 20, YBSJ: Yaquina Bay South Jetty.
CP reported our first GR. WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE flock of about 250 migrating north over Newport's Safeway on 4/14 at about 10 AM. At 8:25 PM that evening a flock of 100-150 flew east over the HMSC (RB), so not all were going the same direction.
A sign of the spring movement of BRANT was a sighting along the coast at Yaquina Head on 3/1 (BLM). At Yaquina Head, WH saw a flock of 120 migrating north about 200 yards off shore on 4/15 and a string of 9 flying north about 50 yards offshore on 4/16. The peak count this month at Yaquina Bay was 269 on 4/4 (RB); JL found 230 on 4/3. YB&N is a project partner of the International Brant Monitoring Project (IBMP) (http://www.padillabay.gov/brant/), and RB relays on sightings of significant numbers of Brant in Lincoln County to their Observation Log (see link on the left side of their web page).
WH reported the first flock (45) of ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE flying north over Yaquina Head on 4/15. Many continued to migrate, with about 800 flying over PP's Lincoln City home on 4/18.
The first brood of MALLARD ducklings (10) appeared at Eckman Lake on 4/16 (RL), and a pair of WOOD DUCKS was there on 4/1 (JWe).
Yaquina Head has been a good place for HARLEQUIN DUCKS, with reports during 4 days in March (BLM). 3 males & 3 females were also at Seal Rocks on 3/22 (JSi & others).
JSi & others saw a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER with a nasal tag on 3/22 at the YBSJ. Finding a marked bird is exciting because there is the possibility of finding out where it has come from, which can be quite a long ways from here. JSi has so far been unsuccessful in trying to find who marked it.
Our only LONG-TAILED DUCK was at Yaquina Head on 4/11 (A&CH, ES).
On 4/16, BLl watched a pair of RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS swimming together with their heads submerged near Idaho Flats. Watching the behavior of birds can often be rewarding--and surprising!
Loon migration was underway by 4/15, when WH estimated 20/min flying north past Yaquina Head. PP's seawatches in April at Boiler Bay revealed thousands of PACIFIC LOONS, hundreds of RED-THROATED LOONS, and lesser numbers of COMMON LOONS flying north. The peak counts were during PP & WH's 8-9:45 AM seawatch on 4/19, when they estimated 8,000+ Pacifics (varying from 50-300/minute), 600+ Red-throateds, and 200+ Commons; and during PP's 6:45-8:30 AM seawatch on 4/29, when he noted 9,000+ Pacifics, 400+ Red-throateds, and 40+ Commons.
WH found a rare CLARK'S GREBE on the water at Boiler Bay on 4/26.
JSi & others saw 5 EARED GREBES near the LNG tank at Yaquina Bay on 3/22. While sailing, PR appreciated an Eared Grebe in breeding plumage in the channel near the LNG tank on 4/6, and RN spotted 2 in breeding plumage near the HMSC on 4/13.
A rare MANX SHEARWATER was discerned about 3/4 mile off Boiler Bay during PP's 4/30 seawatch.
The 103 NORTHERN FULMARS found along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach in March (B&SLo, L&VO) is the most in a month during January-March since BLo's surveys began in 1978. Most were not freshly dead, and 16% were light color-phase, which is less than the percentage of light fulmars late last year. The previous highs were 36 (March 1998) and 35 (January 2004).
BROWN PELICAN sightings increased dramatically during April along the open coast, with reports during 12 days (FR; BB; KB; BLo; PP; WH; A&CH, ES). The peak counts were 45 at Yaquina Head on 4/19 (WH) and 73 at Boiler Bay on 4/30 (PP). They are often rare inside of bays until about June, and HS had our only in-bay report, with one circling inside Yaquina Bay on 4/6. Prior to the 1982/1983 El Nino, pelicans were rare prior to May and uncommon in May and June (SemiL).
GREAT EGRETS overwintered at Beaver Creek, but JL found the first (a singleton) at Yaquina Bay on 4/1. Numbers increased to TW's peak count of 6 at Idaho Flats on 4/25, and at least 3 of these were in full breeding plumage. 2-5 were regularly seen at Yaquina Bay in April (SS; TW; JL; RB).
Our first spring GREEN HERON was in the west log pond between the HMSC and Oregon Coast Aquarium on 4/7 (JL). 2 were in downtown Eddyville on 4/18 (CP).
OSPREY arrived at their Eckman Lake nest on 3/18 (RL), at their Embarcadero nest on 3/26 (HS), and at the Waldport High School football field by 4/1 (BHu). At the football field, there were at least 3 Osprey using the 2 nests atop light poles on 4/2 (BHa). Another 2 were sitting on a nesting snag on the north side of the entry way from HWY 101 to South Beach State Park on 4/30 (KS).
On 3/31 about 2 miles north of Siletz, JCo saw a brown duck (perhaps a nesting Mallard?) fly in two large circles and twice dive-bomb a hovering WHITE-TAILED KITE. The duck appeared to have hit the kite once. Kites may be nesting near the HMSC as JWa watched one carrying nesting material there on 4/14.
Several BALD EAGLES were noted. CN appreciatively spotted an immature in a snag along the beach while driving to Waldport on 4/12. When she returned a few minutes later it was in the freshwater outlet. She stopped at a turnout and let a couple share the experience with her binocs.
Mystery! The evening of 4/30 at the YBSJ, BM saw a coyote take 2 nests of 2 eggs each in the grass within 50 yards of the South Jetty road; no birds were around. The eggs were white and about chicken-sized. The nests were about 50 yards from each other. It is possible that these were NORTHERN HARRIER eggs based on color, size, ground-nesting, and location. BM noted a harrier in the same vicinity about 2 weeks previously, and "two years ago or so, I saw a harrier running a coyote out of the grassy valley between the dunes west of tonight's spot. The only harrier nest I've been lucky enough to see up close was in pretty deep grass at Finley Wildlife Refuge south of Corvallis---definitely deeper grass than where I saw the coyote take eggs this evening." Gabrielson and Jewett (1940. Birds of Oregon) write that harriers normally have 4-6 eggs, and that eggs were collected in Klamath County on May 1. So these clutches may not have been completed. In Gabrielson and Jewett's time, there were a total of only 2 coastal harrier records, so they have become more common since. The first Lincoln County record was in 1970 (SemiL), though they may have been present earlier. They now regularly overwinter. BM happened to be in the right location to see a sequence of behavior that we often do not!
In past years, MERLINS were most apt to be reported in April (SemiL). This year does not appear to be the exception. We had no records in January and one record each in February and March. This month we had 4 records of singletons, including at Road's End in north Lincoln City on 4/11 (ME), the HMSC on 4/13 (RN), and Yachats on 4/21 (SaL). On 4/18, RL writes: "On my way to work, I was driving down US Hwy 101 in South Beach, and I saw a Merlin bolt out in front of me. I caught up to it as it flew along side the Highway just above eye level. It stayed even with me as I was driving. The Merlin flew along effortlessly and maintained speed even though it dodged trees, boats on trailers, parked trucks, etc!"
PEREGRINE FALCONS were recorded during 7 days in March at Yaquina Head (BLM). Others included 1 in the Waldport area on 4/4 (SaL) and 1 at Boiler Bay on 4/29 (PP).
Our first BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and DUNLIN in breeding plumage were reported on 4/7 at Idaho Flats (JL). RN found 100+ DOWITCHERS at Alsea Bay on 4/13 and a flock of SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS also flew over calling.
The most BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS were 6 on rocks by 68th Street north of Yaquina Head on 4/5 (FR).
"Peeps" (small shorebirds) are on the move! On 4/19, PP & WH saw 500 DUNLIN and 1,600 other small shorebirds passing Boiler Bay. But their movement was sporadic, as PP did not see any passing during his 7:15-8:45 AM seawatch at Boiler Bay on 4/22. The evening of 4/27, over 500 (including DUNLIN) were busy refueling at Idaho Flats (RB), and on PP's 4/29 seawatch at Boiler Bay during 6:45-8:30 AM, he estimated 7,000+ WESTERN SANDPIPERS in "many small, apparently pure flocks."
There were many April sightings of WHIMBRELS along the ocean beach or in Yaquina Bay, with high counts of 18 near Seal Rocks on 4/22 (KB) and 17 at Sally's Bend on 4/27 (CA). They are also often seen in upland, short- grass habitats. On 4/19, WH spotted 1 at the Agate Beach Golf Course (near Yaquina Head), and, on 4/20, PP watched 9 on the lawn at Boiler Bay State Park.
MARBLED GODWITS other than those in the photo included 2-6 that stopped on the rock shelf northwest of Yaquina Bay Bridge on 4/3 & 25 (JL; RB).
PP found our first RUDDY TURNSTONE since last May at Boiler Bay on 4/20.
[Image Not Included: Jill Grover's mid-April photo of 2 Marbled Godwits wading along the ocean shore at Bayshore Beach north of Waldport.]
During PP's 6:30-8 AM seawatch at Boiler Bay on 4/30, he noted 6,000+ RED-NECKED PHALAROPES--the first of the season and perhaps the harbinger of a major migration this spring.
A single BONAPARTE'S GULL was at Idaho Flats on 4/3 & 4/16 (JL)--they should be increasing in abundance. A GLAUCOUS GULL was at the Newport Bayfront on 3/31 (JN) and at Idaho Flats on 4/3 (JL).
Our only report of Common or Arctic Terns were a flock of 20+ COMMON TERNS at Boiler Bay on 4/19 (WH & GG). There were many reports of Caspian Terns along the coast or in bays, with the high count of 55 flying north at Boiler Bay on 4/26 (WH).
PIGEON GUILLEMOTS were using a hole in the cliff at Pacific Shores, south of South Beach on 4/5 (LO).
1 ANCIENT MURRELET and 1 RHINOCEROS AUKLET were washed ashore along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach in March (B&SLo, L&VO). No live Ancients were reported, but 3-60+ Rhinoceros Auklets and 1-6 MARBLED MURRELETS were recorded alive during 5 Boiler Bay seawatches on 4/19 (PP & WH) and 4/20-29 (PP). During these watches, PP saw 1-2 TUFTED PUFFINS on 4/22, 24, & 29.
We had our first records of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES during May/June 2006. In 2007, we had a smattering of sightings in May and one record in August. Our only record since then was on 4/29, when WH detected one flying past the entrance to South Beach State Park.
4 MOURNING DOVES resided through mid-April at L&JM's Coquille Point home east of Sally's Bend. Another was near the south end of the Yaquina Bay Bridge on 4/26 (SS).
BAND-TAILED PIGEONS appeared to have arrived en masse on about 4/11 (BB; EH), with reports of 15 or more in Yachats on 4/11 (BB), near Coquille Point in mid-April (L&JM), and in Newport on 4/27 (SS & TD).
A BARRED OWL hooting at LO's north Beaver Creek home on 4/27 was our only report.
L&JM also noted more hummers at their Coquille Point home, with RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS and ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS together until 4/11. An Anna's lingered near the USFWS building at the HMSC on 4/15 (JL).
[Image Not Included: Darrel Faxon's cropped photo of a sapsucker near his Thornton Creek home on April 12. His photo is at the Bird Guide site (http://thebirdguide.com/temp_images/RecentPhotos/RecentBirdPhotos.htm). Darrel notes that there was not a consensus about its identity, and it appears to have been a Red-naped Sapsucker with some Yellow-bellied Sapsucker characteristics. Nevertheless, as Darrel comments, "it was a beautiful bird."]
[Image Not Included: Howard Shippey's photos of a male hybrid Red-shafted X Yello-shafted Northern Flicker near the Newport Bayfront in mid-March. It is identifiable as a hybrid because it has the red crescent on the back of its neck like a yellow-shafted, but it has the red malar stripe (moustache), reddish undertail feathers, and grayish side of the face like a red-shafted. It was last seen there on 4/30.]
Arrivals include: WILSON'S WARBLER at DG's Toledo home on 3/30, PURPLE MARTIN in South Beach on 4/11 (EH), EVENING GROSBEAK at Yachats on 4/11 (BB) and Toledo on 4/13 (CP), BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD at L&JM's Coquille Point home on 4/17, CASSIN'S VIREO at EH's South Beach home on 4/24, BLACK- HEADED GROSBEAK at BB's Yachats home on 4/24, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT during the 4/26 YBNFT to Cape Perpetua's Giant Spruce Trail, and WARBLING VIREO and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER at EH's South Beach home on 4/27.
On 4/12, a BLACK PHOEBE was found in Yachats just north of Overleaf Lodge's housing development where the 804 trail crosses a stream that has been dammed by beavers (A&CH, ES). SaL looked a few days later and did not find the phoebe but did see Wood Ducks in the beaver pond. Black Phoebes are uncommon here, with only 2 records since 1997 (FN), including one in December 2004 while WH was steelhead fishing on the Siletz River downstream of Morgan Landing, and the second on 6/2/2007, while RL was halibut fishing 15-16 miles west of Newport (FN).
An underreported BROWN CREEPER was near LO's north Beaver Creek home in mid-April.
DF found a flock of 30 CEDAR WAXWINGS in Newport on 4/8. These may be spring nomads rather than spring migrants, since they usually do not arrive and remain until mid-May (SemiL). During 1973-1992, we had a smattering of Cedar Waxwing records during January-April in 9 of 20 years (SemiL).
April was often wintry, with lots of ice and hail. On 4/20, DF wrote that he had "two inches of snow at Thornton Creek this morning, and a flock of bright breeding-plumaged Audubon's YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS are moving through the white blanket in the trees. What a sight!"
The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW along the HMSC Nature Trail lingered until at least 3/29 (ME).
Different subspecies of SAVANNAH SPARROWS move through, especially right along the coast strip. On 4/19 at the YBSJ, WH admired "a bright 'Alaska' " Savannah Sparrow.
BLo had our only report of a Slate-colored DARK-EYED JUNCO--one was in the driveway at his Thiel Creek home on 4/17.
JSh discovered a pair of LAPLAND LONGSPURS in breeding plumage along the boulders of the YBSJ near the biggest parking area by the "Gull Puddle" the morning of 4/28. She quickly reported it, so JB was able to see them that afternoon. They were also seen there on 4/29 & 30, often in the company of 1-2 Savannah Sparrows (JL; WH; BOl; CP). Since 2000, we only have had one record by 1-2 observers each fall in 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2007 (FN). They have occurred in spring before, since we had 7 years of records in April or May prior to 1993 (SemiL), but this was an exceptional chance in recent years for many people to see them---and to see them in spring breeding plumage!
On 4/9, LO had a female GROSBEAK at his north Beaver Creek feeders, but it flew away before he determined if it was a Black-headed or Rose- breasted. That would be unseasonally early for a Black-headed, but we have had Rose-breasteds uncommonly in early spring.
On 4/30, a male BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK showed up at J&KC's home about 4 miles east of Waldport at their home-made peanut log. JC notes that "the birds sure love it"; see her recipe along with a link about NOT using hydrogenated peanut butter at http://www.birdsamore.com/recipes/peanutbuttercake.htm
3-5 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS lingered at the HMSC on 3/22 (JSi & others) and 4/7 (JL).
LESSER GOLDFINCHES remained at L&JM's Coquille Point home until 4/9. AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES arrived and brightened many areas, with 20+ at BOu's Newport home on 4/22.
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Cindy Ashy, Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Kitty Brigham, Bureau of Land Management staff at Yaquina Head (BLM), Judy Butts, Jorrie & Ken Ciotti (http://www.birdsamore.com), Joel Colvin (JCo), Todd Dunkirk, Mark Elliott, Darrel Faxon (some of DF's bird records are at bird.htm#thornton_creek), Greg Gillson, Dawn Grafe, Bill Hanshumaker (BHa), Adrian & Christopher Hinkle, Wayne Hoffman, Eric Horvath, Bettye Hunt (BHu), Janet Lamberson, Bob Llewellyn (BLl), Sally Lockyear (SaL), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Linda & John MacKown, Barry McPherson, Russ Namitz, Cheryl Norton, Field Notes (FN; Lincoln County records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are searchable at bird.htm#recent [all lower case letters]), John Notis, Bob Olson (BOl), Oregon Birders On Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Bette Ouderkirk (BOu), Chuck Philo, Phil Pickering, Fran Recht, Paul Reed, Em Scattaregia, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive@OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Howard Shippey, Joline Shroyer (JSh), Jamie Simmons (JSi), Keith Stratton, Stacy Strickland, Jessica Waddell (JWa), Tom Wainwright, Jean Weakland (JWe), Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (YBNFT Field Trip led by SaL & BB).
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Some Lincoln Co. site locations: BEAVER CREEK: creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park, BOILER BAY: State Wayside about 0.5 mi north of Depoe Bay, ECKMAN LAKE: lake 2 mi east of Waldport along HWY 34, HMSC: OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of HMSC, LNG TANK: large green Liquefied Natural Gas tank on the north side of Yaquina Bay about 1.5 miles east of Yaquina Bay Bridge, ONA BEACH: State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, SALLY'S BEND: large Yaquina Bay embayment east of the LNG tank, WANDEMERE: about 0.5 mi north of Ona Beach State Park near HWY 101, YBSJ: Yaquina Bay South Jetty.
May 16 was an extremely hot day, with temperatures in the 90's along the coast and 101.5 F at J&KCi's home about 4 miles east of Waldport. JCi wrote "Needless to say, the clean birdbath was heavily used."
But the strong east winds the previous night may have affected migrating birds more than temperature. Based on weather measurements at HMSC Guin Library (see Archives at http://weather.hmsc.orst.edu/), wind direction changed to coming from an easterly direction at about 11:45 PM the night of May 15. Then peak winds were consistently 15-26 mph until just after 12 PM (noon) on May 16. The peak temperature of 90.7 F was at 12:45 PM, and then winds changed from an easterly to from a westerly direction.
The strong east winds may have pushed or disoriented migrating birds during the night. Indeed, at 9:30 AM the morning of 5/16, RL noted that he had:
"just returned from Yaquina Head where the wind is gusting to 35 mph and higher, and it is very warm. It was amusing watching the seabirds trying to deal with the east winds close to the cliffs, but what was really spectacular is the fallout of warblers there. From the west parking lot out to the deck, I saw no less than 50 Wilson's Warblers while I was there for about an hour. ... The warblers were really struggling in the wind. I saw some of the birds come in from the west and then just drop down into the salal and berry bushes exhausted. I suspect there were many more birds present than I saw as they were hunkered down under the short brush. Wish I could have spent more time out there. No telling what might show up!"
At Cascade Head (Tillamook Co.) the morning of 5/16, PP observed at least six rare species and wrote
"From 7:30 AM until the wind started to let up at about 9:00 small flocks [of warblers] were almost continually in view flying off the ocean and east along the lower half of the meadow. Some were stopping briefly in the alder ravine and surrounding brush, but most were staying on the move to the east."
While some weak migrants were flying in from off the ocean, others blown offshore may not have made it back. For instance, DB found a dead Hermit Warbler and 5 dead Wilson's Warblers in the high tide wrack line at Baker Beach (Lane Co.) the evening of 5/16.
Flying ants were also affected by the weather. DL & KCa found a wrackline in Coos Co. littered with millions of carcasses of flying insects (ants ?) during the weekend of 5/17-18. On 5/18, D&SI
"walked about three miles of Lincoln County beach (Beverly Beach State Park to at least Moolack Beach), and we also encountered a wrackline that was comprised almost entirely of fairly large flying ants. Never seen anything like it. Millions is by no means an exaggeration."
Hmmm, I wonder why gulls, shorebirds, or crows did not eat the ants? Perhaps they don't like ants, there were too many, or the ants didn't look like food?
Many species that are uncommon or rare in May were located this month. JL wondered if this represented an influx from the interior. Good question! However, May is a time of spring migration when a few individuals of normally interior species can become disoriented and mistakenly fly west to the coast. Further, an increase in the number of uncommon species or rarities may not be related to an influx of rarities, but to other factors, since bird reports depend upon:
1) bird presence
2) good fortune (chance) in finding them (e.g., the chance of finding 1 inconspicuous bird is less than finding numerous conspicuous birds)
3) sufficient observation effort to find a species, which may sometimes require special effort for an inconspicuous species or a rare species that looks similar to a common species
4) reporting a species after it is found.
One could try to determine if there was an influx of rare or uncommon species this year by comparing the number of these species this year compared to the past 9 years. However, one problem in doing so is choosing which species to include. In Table 1, for example, I list 16 species that have been seen in May in 2 or more years since 1999 plus in the footnotes on top of p. 4 I include an additional 13 species that were reported in May of only 1 year. I did not include Manx Shearwater (May 2006 and 2008) and Kittlitz's Murrelet (2005) that were seen from shore because they are so challenging to identify. There are additional species that one could debate about including (e.g., Clark's Grebe, Sora, golden-plover sp., Solitary Sandpiper, and Black Swift). These species as well as some in Table 1 could easily be present every year but require special observation effort to find. For instance, Franklin's Gull may be present each May, but detecting them can require sorting through many Bonaparte's Gulls.
For the 29 species included in Table 1, 0-9 rare or uncommon species occurred in May of 1999-2007. May 2008 had 14, the most.
However, this increase may represent an increase in observation effort or reporting or good fortune rather than a real increase in vagrancy. In a "Big Day," one or more birders try to find as many species as possible during a 24-hour period. This year, NS & KF did a Big Day within Lincoln Co. on 5/3 and found 141 species, one short of the record of 142 by PP, DI, & SH. Such Big Days do not occur every year, and such an intense effort can be expected to find rare birds (e.g., NS & KF reported 2 of the 14 species). There were also 2 other teams doing Oregon Big Days that included part of Lincoln Co., but they did not report any rare or uncommon species in Lincoln Co. Except for NS & KF's Lincoln Co. Big Day, it is my impression that observation effort and reporting are similar this year to recent years.
Nevertheless, our observation effort this May, like in other years, was spotty and biased towards reporting conspicuous or rare species that are of more interest to birders. While we had many reports of rare species, I saw no reports of Marsh Wren, Virginia Rail, or American Bittern. Does this mean that these species were rarer than the American Avocets and Red-eyed Vireo reported this month? I doubt it.
To a significant degree, what we see is what we look for.
It is possible that the May 16 "fallout" (see above) was a factor in the increase of rare species this May, since PP saw six rare species at Cascade Head (Tillamook Co.) the morning of the 5/16 "fallout." Indeed, 5 of the 14 rare or uncommon species noted in Lincoln Co. this May were reported on 5/16 or later--without them the total would be the same as the 9 species total in 1999 (Table 1). However, this may also be coincidence, as rare birds have also appeared in late May in other years. For example, 6 of the 9 rare species in 1999 were recorded on 5/16 or later.
TABLE 1. Records of species rare or uncommon in May in Lincoln County that were reported during May 1999-2008. See text for challenges in choosing species to include. The number of records of rare or uncommon species reported during at least 2 years in May is in the main part of the Table for each year; species recorded during only 1 year are in the footnotes on top of p. 4.
Record=report of at least one live bird seen or heard from shore at one location (i.e., beached or pelagic reports are not included). Pelagic reports are not included because there were not pelagic trips each May.
2008 First May 16-31=first record in May 2008 was during May 16-31.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rare or Uncommon 2008
Species During Number of May Records in Lincoln County__________ First
2+ Years 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 May 16-31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Am. White Pelican 0 0 0 0 1* 0 0 0 0 1 no
White-faced Ibis 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 yes
Semipalmated Sandpiper 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 -
Franklin's Gull 1 0 3 4 0 1 0 0 1 3 no
Horned Puffin 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 no
Black-chin. Hummingbird 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -
Northern Mockingbird 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1* 2 0 -
Sage Thrasher 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 -
Yellow-breasted Chat 0 0 0 2* 0 0 0 0 1 0 -
Chipping Sparrow 1 0 0 1* 1 0 0 1 0 2 no
Clay-colored Sparrow 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 no
Lark Sparrow 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 -
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 yes
Lazuli Bunting 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 -
Yellow-headed Blackbird 0 0 1 0 0 1* 0 0 0 2* no
Cassin's Finch 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 yes
No. Species
during 2+ years 6 1 5 3 5 5 0 5 6 9 3-yes
for Only 1 year 3 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 1 5 2-yes**
Grand Total of Species 9 1 6 5 6 5 0 5 7 14 5-yes
*=presumably the same bird was reported during 2-4 days, so these reports are considered as one record.
** 1999-2007: Redhead, Hudsonian Godwit, Thick-billed Murre, Eastern
Kingbird, Blackpoll Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Horned Lark, and Pine
Grosbeak.
2008: American Avocet (first on 5/6), Sabine's Gull (5/11), Black
Tern (5/23), Red-eyed Vireo (5/16), and Harris's Sparrow (5/8).
GR. WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE migration continued through 5/7 (PP; RL).
During spring migration, BRANT sometimes drop out along the coastline and linger for a few days. This May between Seal Rocks and Ona Beach, KB counted 3-6 during 7 days from 5/6-14 and 2 on 5/26. The latest flock was 20 in lower Yaquina Bay on 5/19 (JL). Our latest report was of 2 at Nye Beach in Newport on 5/27 (PK). YB&N is a project partner of the International Brant Monitoring Project (IBMP) (http://www.padillabay.gov/brant/), and RB relayed on sightings of significant numbers of Brant in Lincoln County to their Observation Log (see link on the left side of their web page).
MC reported the first WESTERN CANADA GEESE migrating north in Lincoln Co.; they passed over Seal Rocks on 5/16. RL notes that the USFWS began documenting this late flight in 1994 and that this flight starts on about 5/11 and continues into early June. It appears to be a movement of nonbreeding or failed breeding birds heading north to a molting area, probably the lower Columbia River. Please report the date and time, your location, direction of flight (some may fly south), and number of Canada Geese to Roy_Lowe@fws.gov. RL adds that you don't really need to know subspecies because all of the others are gone during this late May-early June flight.
We had HARLEQUIN DUCK reports at Yaquina Head during 7 days in April (BLM), 2 were at the YBSJ on 5/3 (NS & KF), and our high count and latest was 5 at Seal Rocks on 5/6 (KB).
Latest dates for waterfowl include 1 LONG-TAILED DUCK at Boiler Bay on 5/2 (PP), 1 TUNDRA SWAN at Siletz Bay during 5/2-4 (RL; WH; NS & KF), 1 EURASIAN WIGEON at Yaquina Bay on 5/3 (NS & KF), 1 BUFFLEHEAD at Yaquina Bay on 5/22 (WH), 1 CINNAMON TEAL at Eckman Lake on 5/24 (RL), 2 pairs of BLUE-WINGED TEAL at Eckman Lake on 5/25 (RL), and 13 SCAUP at Idaho Flats on 6/3 (RB). A few scaup are often present into late June and even July (SemiL).
RUFFED GROUSE drummed at Logsden during 5/2-5 (BLl) and near Lincoln City on 5/3 (NS & KF).
1-2 CLARK'S GREBES were at the YBSJ and near Sally's Bend on 5/3 (NS & KF) and at Yachats on 5/19 (B&ALoc).
What is going on with NORTHERN FULMARS? Since January 1978, BLo and his team have been doing approximately weekly beach walks along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach. The January total of fulmars this year (12) is the sixth highest for these 31 years, and February (17), March (103), and now April (49) are the most ever for those months (B&SLo, L&VO). The second and third highest April was 15 in 2001 and 6 in 2000, respectively.
During April, BLo and his team also found a beached FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL and a SOOTY SHEARWATER.
2 rare AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS visited King Slough, east of Idaho Flats, the evening of 5/15 (fide BLo, RS fide JM). This is only our 6th Lincoln Co. report (SemiL; FN).
BROWN PELICANS were recorded during 4 days in April at Yaquina Head (BLM). In May, peak numbers were 60-100 at Boiler Bay during morning 5/4-7 seawatches (PP, WH) and 70 roosting at dusk on a nearshore rock near Seal Rocks on 5/31 (KB).
6 GREAT EGRETS were at Yaquina Bay on 6/6 & 13 (JL; RB). We still have no records of them nesting in Lincoln Co.
WHITE-FACED IBIS have been noted in 3 of the past 9 Mays (Table 1). This May, 2 were at Idaho Flats on the hot 5/16 (RL) and, on 5/19, about 35-44 were along the Yachats coastline (B&ALoc) and at Yaquina Head (WH).
2 BALD EAGLES graced the 5/24 YBNFT at Idaho Flats. Flying WESTERN GULLS often "mob" or dive-bomb flying Bald Eagles, but are eagles a real threat to a Western Gull? On 5/7 at the HMSC, RL
"looked out my window with binoculars to watch Whimbrels feeding along the edge of the marsh. I then looked out over the bay, and there were no birds around, until I saw an adult Bald Eagle barreling down on a Western Gull on the wing. Just before the eagle reached the gull, the gull dove into the water. The eagle made one short dive at it, then on the next short dive it nailed the gull and flew with it across the bay to a stump to feed. The entire event looked pretty effortless!"
The mystery grows! In last month's column, it was noted that BMc saw a coyote chew and swallow 2 white eggs each from 2 nests south of the YBSJ road on 4/30. I speculated that they might have been Northern Harrier eggs. On 5/3, BMc inspected the area nest area and found 2 white golf balls. Did the coyote swallow some golf balls?
On 5/4, RC was cycling up north Beaver Creek Road and at about Mile 2.5 flushed a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK perched near the road and at about Mile 3 heard and saw a probable NORTHERN GOSHAWK!
The BLM recorded PEREGRINE FALCONS at Yaquina Head during 4 days in April. On 5/5 at the HMSC, RL observed
"some spectacular flying and aggression between two Peregrines outside my office window over [Idaho Flats]. An adult male Peregrine drove a juvenile female out of the area almost locking talons several times. After the juvenile was driven out the adult male just glided around the bay on the winds gaining altitude and circling the south end of the bay without needing to flap his wings."
On 5/24, RL also saw a Peregrine in south Lincoln Co.
NS & KF found our only SORA at Beaver Creek during their 5/3 Big Day.
[Image Not Included: Kitty Brigham's May 6 photo of 5 Black Oystercatchers
on the sand near the water at Seal Rocks.]
[Image Not Included: Kitty Brigham's May 6 photo of several "rockpipers" in
breeding plumage on algae- and barnacle-covered rock at Seal Rocks. They
are Surfbird (left), 2 Black Turnstones (middle), and Ruddy Turnstone
(right).]
PP discovered our only GOLDEN-PLOVER sp. passing Boiler Bay on 5/8. SaL and BBa conducted their portion of the 2008 BLACK OYSTERCATCHER Survey and found 3 north of the Yachats River on 5/25.
A flock of 3 AMERICAN AVOCETS in breeding plumage flew north past Boiler Bay on 5/6 (PP). This is only our 6th record. We had spring records previously for them in 1997 (May) and 2002 (April) (SemiL; FN).
On 5/3, 1-2 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS were at south Beaver Creek (WH) and at Idaho Flats and near Toledo (NS & KF).
PR viewed our only WILLET on the ocean beach south of Agate Beach Wayside in Newport on 5/18. Our only WANDERING TATTLERS were singletons at the YBSJ on 5/3 (NS & KF) and Yachats on 5/19 (B&ALoc).
Many WHIMBRELS were noticed, with a peak count of 30 on the ocean beach south of Agate Beach Wayside in Newport on 5/18 (PR). 1 LONG-BILLED CURLEW visited Boiler Bay on 5/3 (WH, NS, & KF).
1-4 MARBLED GODWITS dropped out near Sally's Bend on 5/3 (NS & KF) and at Boiler Bay on 5/5-7 (PP).
RUDDY TURNSTONES had a good showing with 8 reports of 1-7 during 5/3-9 at Boiler Bay, Seal Rocks, Yaquina Bay, and South Beach (PP; RP; DG; KB; RB).
This was also a good May for RED KNOTS! 2-10 were at Idaho Flats on 5/1, 10 & 15 (EH; CP; JL), 1-5 were at Boiler Bay on 5/4, 5, 6, & 7 (PP; WH), 1 was at South Beach on 5/16 (TS), and 1 visited Alsea Bay Spit on 5/16-17 (EC). In contrast, only 1-2 were noted during just 2 reports in May 2007 (FN).
As in recent years, the timing of peak shorebird migration could be estimated by average flight rates during seawatches at Boiler Bay. This year, seawatches were conducted by PP (12), PP & WH (2), and WH (1) from April 19 to May 11. They were in the morning and were 45-285 minutes long.
Based on Boiler Bay seawatches (see graph), the largest peak migration of "peeps" was during 4/29-5/6 (PP; WH), like 2007. Note that the graph is not smooth, which is to be expected of real data, and that there are several peaks. In contrast, the peak during 2005 was during 4/19-4/23. In 2007, PP noted that the vast majority were WESTERN SANDPIPERS. This May, Westerns again predominated but DUNLIN comprised up to 36% of peeps.
During Boiler Bay seawatches, DOWITCHERS peaked at 2-4/minute on 5/5-6 (PP; WH).
During 2005-2006, few RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were seen in May, but 2007 was a good year with an average of 160/min on May 11 at Boiler Bay (PP). This year many Rednecks were reported by many observers at Yaquina Bay and along the coast. At Boiler Bay (see graph), there were peaks on at least 4/30 and 5/7 (PP; WH). Because there were no seawatches after 5/11, it is unknown if their migration continued as long as in 2007, when they still had an average passage rate of 19/min on 5/26 at Boiler Bay (PP).
Estimated Number of "peeps" (small shorebirds except phalaropes)/Minute
Passing Boiler Bay during 15 Morning Seawatches Lasting 45-285 Minutes
90- X--89/min
B 80- XXX
i 70- X XXX
r 60- X XXX
d 50- X XXX
s 40- X XXXX
/ 30- X XXXXX
m 20- X XX X XXXXX
i 10- X X XX X XXXXXX X
n 1-4- XX X XX X XXXXXX X
0- XX X X X XX X XXXXXX X
|''''|''''|''''|''''|''''|''''|
15 20 25 30 5 10 15
April------------|---May--------
Estimated Number of Red-necked Phalaropes/Minute
Passing Boiler Bay during 15 Morning Seawatches Lasting 45-285 Minutes
180- X--175/min
B 160- X
i 140- X
r 120- X
d 100- X
s 80- X
/ 60- X XX
m 40- X XX
i 20- X XXX
n 1-9- X XXX
0- XX X X X XX X XXXXXX X
|''''|''''|''''|''''|''''|''''|
15 20 25 30 5 10 15
April------------|---May--------
2-4 FRANKLIN'S GULLS were reported at Boiler Bay on 5/6-7 (PP) and Idaho Flats on 5/19 (JL). They were noted in 6 of 10 recent Mays, so this May is not exceptional (Table 1).
On 5/11, 1-2 SABINE'S GULLS were recognized from shore at Boiler Bay (PP) and offshore from the Coral Princess cruise ship (DI, JG, OS, and SW). They were also noted during May pelagic trips in 2000, 2002, and 2003.
A BLACK TERN checked in at D River City Park in Lincoln City on 5/23 (PP)--this is only our third record since 1992, and 6th record overall.
JL saw a CASPIAN TERN with leg bands at Idaho Flats on 5/20. Please help track movements of color-banded Caspians by reporting the color-band combinations on their legs, as well as the time, date, location, and activity to http://www.columbiabirdresearch.org/
Our only ANCIENT MURRELET flew north past Boiler Bay on 5/5 (PP).
A HORNED PUFFIN flew north with Common Murres during PP's 5/6 Boiler Bay seawatch. We have records of them in May in 3 of the 5 years during 2004-2008 (Table 1).
1-7 TUFTED PUFFINS detected during PP's 5 morning seawatches at Boiler Bay during 5/5-11 were our only reports.
30-60 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS chowed down at feeders in the Waldport area in late May (RL; BH). Although they seem more abundant than in recent years, RL recalled more coming to his feeders 10 years ago.
Sightings of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE include 1 at D River on 5/25 (PP) and another in Siletz on 5/26 (SN).
A BARRED OWL was in the Siletz area on 5/2-3 (PK; NS & KF), near Elk City on 5/3 (NS & KF), and at north Beaver Creek on 5/29 (LO).
BLl reported our first COMMON NIGHTHAWK at Logsden on 6/1.
On 5/29 in Toledo, CP saw an adult male, bright-plumaged, green- backed Selasphorus hummingbird that looked like an ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD. However, conclusively separating an Allen's from a green-backed Rufous Hummingbird here does not seem possible by only a visual sighting.
In early May, MH saw a hummingbird strike a Newport window and be carried off by a STELLER'S JAY before it could recover. See http://www.flap.org/ and http://www.audubon.org/bird/at_home/SafeWindows.html for tips on trying to reduce bird-window collisions.
Our first VAUX'S SWIFT fluttered at Siletz Bay on 5/4 (WH) and a few days later at Toledo (CP). 1-3 rare BLACK SWIFTS were near Siletz Bay on 5/4 (WH) and Thornton Creek between Toledo and Eddyville on 5/19 (DF).
RL had our only WESTERN KINGBIRD report--one near the HMSC Nature Trail on 5/16.
A hypothetical record of RED-EYED VIREO in July 1981 was our sole record (SemiL; FN) until this May. On 5/16, DF heard one singing in the forest near his Thornton Creek home between Toledo and Eddyville.
BO reported our first SWAINSON'S THRUSH on 5/13 at his Newport home, and WH found a very late HERMIT THRUSH at his South Beach home on 5/31. WH noted that it was one of the larger, grayer forms different from those that winter.
CEDAR WAXWINGS arrived at J&KCi's home 4 miles east of Waldport on 5/21. JCi wrote that 2
"had apple blossom flowers in their beaks and were touching and snuggling up next to each other in a very large hemlock tree. Very sweet!"
NS & KF's 5/3 Lincoln Co. Big Day yielded 2 AMERICAN PIPITS at the HMSC--our only report.
A late PALM WARBLER lingered along the HMSC Nature Trail on 5/14 (JL). WESTERN TANAGERS put on a good show this spring and graced the 5/24 YBNFT, with peak counts of 7 on 5/11 at Logsden (BLl) and near Eckman Lake (RL).
A CHIPPING SPARROW was near Toledo on 5/3 (NS & KF) and at Yaquina Head on 5/16 (RL). We have records of them in May in 5 of 10 years from 1999-2008 (Table 1).
The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW along the HMSC Nature Trail first reported during the Jan. 5 Yaquina Bay Christmas Bird Count lingered until at least 5/3 (NS & KF). They were recorded in only one other May since 1999 (Table 1).
CL &BBe had a HARRIS'S SPARROW at their Newport home during 5/8 that several birders also saw on 5/9. The previous one was reported in Nov. 2003 (FN).
A female LAPLAND LONGSPUR that appeared different than the female in the pair reported last month lingered at the YBSJ until 5/2 (WH & CP).
A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK dropped into the Depoe Bay area on 5/26 (fide DD). DD identified it as a male Rose-breasted from a photo. Unfortunately, it was in an area not open to the public. Rose-breasteds appear to have greatly increased in frequency in recent years. Prior to 1993, we only had records in 1977 (SemiL). While compiling Table 1, I discovered that we had no additional records during 1993-1997, but we have had records every year during 1998-2008, except for 1999 and 2006 (FN).
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS seemed to be more numerous than usual this May (e.g., BBa; DG; RC & WN; LO; BH; TS).
A WESTERN MEADOWLARK at the HMSC on 5/27 (RL) was late.
We had two records of single male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS. One was in the freshwater marsh near the southwest corner of Idaho Flats on 5/13 (DC, TW, & DA) and presumably the same bird was also there on 5/24 (EH). Another male perched in a holly tree near BMi's home in Newport on 5/14. They were found in 3 of 10 Mays (Table 1)--the same percentage of occurrence as during 1973-1992 (6 of 20 Mays)(SemiL).
A first spring male BULLOCK'S ORIOLE visited CP's Toledo home on 5/16 (CP), and a female Bullock's visited his Red Hot Poker plants there on 5/28. The Red Hot Pokers had also attracted many Western Tanagers and Black-headed Grosbeaks and a flock of Cedar Waxwings on 5/31 (CP).
There was also a lot of colorful birds elsewhere, too, as BLl, had 24 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, 24 PURPLE FINCHES, and 4 male and 1 female Black- headed Grosbeaks at his Logsden home on 5/10.
A yellow HOUSE FINCH showed near Seal Rock in mid-May (KB)--yellow and orange plumage in House Finches can be caused by diet deficiencies. DG reported the first young of the year House Finches at her HMSC feeder on 5/21 and the same day the partial albino House Finch that had been coming to her feeder the past 2 years returned.
Lincoln County's first CASSIN'S FINCH report was of a pair at Wandemere on 5/16/1999 (RC & WN). In 2008, our second record was a male CASSIN'S FINCH at Wandemere on 5/26 (RC). They are tough to distinguish from House and Purple Finches, but RC carefully studied it.
We had many reports of EVENING GROSBEAKS (e.g., BBa and others), with at least 12 at PR's Newport home on 5/9.
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Dan Avery, Betty Bahn (BBa), David Bailey, Range Bayer, Bob Berman (BBe), Kitty Brigham, Bureau of Land Management staff at Yaquina Head (BLM), Ellen Cantor, Kathy Castelein (KCa), Maxine Centala, Rebecca Cheek, Jorrie & Ken Ciotti (J&KCi; http://www.birdsamore.com), CoastWatch (a volunteer project monitoring one-mile segments of the Oregon coast), Doug Cottam, Dick Demarest, Karl Fairchild, Darrel Faxon (some of DF's bird records are at bird.htm#thornton_creek), Jeff Gilligan, Dawn Grafe, Steve Heinl, Wayne Hoffman, \Mary Holbert, Eric Horvath, Bettye Hunt, David & Stuart Irons, Penelope Kaczmarek, Janet Lamberson, Dave Lauten, Cindy Lippincott, Bob Llewellyn (BLl), Bob Lockett & Adrienne Wolf-Lockett (B&ALoc), Sally Lockyear (SaL), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, John MacKown, Barry McPherson (BMc), Bob Miller (BMi), Walt Nelson, Field Notes (FN; Lincoln County records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are searchable at bird.htm#recent [all lower case letters]), Bob Olson, Oregon Birders On Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Ram Papish, Chuck Philo, Phil Pickering, Paul Reed, Owen Schmidt, Trent Seager, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive@OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Rose Shaw, snellinj@peak.org (SN), Noah Strycker, Tami Wagner, Sheran Wright, Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (YBNFT Field Trip led by BO).
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