[obol] Birds in Bethany/West Union area

[Mike Gellerman]

Friends,

I moved to Portland about a year ago and I live on Bethany Pond - a small TVP&R Park in the West Union area.  I think it is called Lake Bethany now on maps, but that is rather grand name for an old agricultural pond.  It does have it charms though, especially the diversity of birds I have seen over the course of the last year.  Winter ducks and our breeding birds are especially fine.  This time of year we have daily displays by Belted Kingfisher family, Green Herons, GB Herons, mixed flocks of American and Lesser Goldfinches, and wave after of wave of Bushtit flocks, often 25 or more hanging on the suet feeder.  Last week I sat down with my field notes and complied a list for this area, more or less the pond, the park and the open space across West Union that is edge of the urban growth boundary with some nice riparian habitat.  I also discovered birdnotes.net, a very nice tool for quickly putting together reports.  All that said, here is an annotated list for this year with a few exceptions, especially the Bald Eagle that was here for several days 2 years ago but I thought it worthy for inclusion as while I did not see it, I doubt my neighbors had that ID wrong!

A year end review of the birds around Bethany Pond/West Union Area (August 2005 to September 2006). By taxonomy: Order, Family, Subfamily:

[M]=migrant [R]=resident and breeding [B]=migrants breeding here [?]=no confirmation, but likely status
  Anseriformes (Screamers, Swans, Geese and Ducks)
    Anatidae (Swans, Geese and Ducks)
      Anserinae (Geese and Swans)
          a.. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) [B, R, M]

          a.. Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) [M]

          a.. Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) [M]

      Anatinae (Ducks)
          a.. Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) [B, M]

          a.. Gadwall (Anas strepera) [M]

          a.. American Wigeon (Anas americana) [M]

          a.. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) [B, M]

          a.. Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) [M]

          a.. Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) [M]

          a.. Redhead (Aythya americana) [m]

          a.. Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) [M]

          a.. Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) [M]

          a.. Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) [M]

          a.. Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) [M]

          a.. Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) [M]

  Gaviiformes (Loons)
    Gaviidae (Loons)
          a.. Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) [M]

          a.. Common Loon (Gavia immer) [M]

  Podicipediformes (Grebes)
    Podicipedidae (Grebes)
          a.. Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) [R?, B, M]

          a.. Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) [M]

          a.. Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) [M]

          a.. Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) [M]

          a.. Clark's Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii) [M]

  Pelecaniformes (Totipalmate Swimmers)
    Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants)
          a.. Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) [R]

  Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks and Allies)
    Ardeidae (Bitterns and Herons)
          a.. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) [R]

          a.. Great Egret (Ardea alba) [one record)

          a.. Green Heron (Butorides virescens) [B, M]

    Cathartidae (American Vultures)
          a.. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) [R]

  Falconiformes (Diurnal Birds of Prey)
    Accipitridae (Hawks, Kites, Eagles and Allies)
      Pandioninae (Ospreys)
          a.. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) [R]

      Accipitrinae (Kites, Eagles, and Hawks)
          a.. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) [one record]

          a.. Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) [R]

          a.. Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) [R]

          a.. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) [R]

    Falconidae (Caracaras and Falcons)
      Falconinae (True Falcons and Laughing Falcons)
          a.. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) [R]

  Gruiformes (Rails, Cranes and Allies)
    Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules and Coots)
          a.. Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) [one record]

          a.. Sora (Porzana carolina) [several records, status?]

          a.. American Coot (Fulica americana) [M]

    Gruidae (Cranes)
      Gruinae (Typical Cranes)
          a.. Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) [M]

  Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, Gulls, Auks and Allies)
    Charadriidae (Lapwings and Plovers)
      Charadriinae (Plovers)
          a.. Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) [M]

          a.. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) [R]

    Scolopacidae (Sandpipers, Phalaropes and Allies)
      Scolopacinae (Sandpipers and Allies)
          a.. Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia) [M]

          a.. Sanderling (Calidris alba) [M]

          a.. Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) [R?, B]

    Laridae (Skuas, Gulls, Terns and Skimmers)
      Larinae (Gulls)
          a.. Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) [M]

          a.. California Gull (Larus californicus) [M]

          a.. Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) [M]

          a.. Thayer's Gull (Larus thayeri) [M]

          a.. Western Gull (Larus occidentalis) [M]

          a.. Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) [M]

          a.. Glaucous-winged x Western Gull (Larus glaucescens x occidentalis) [M]

      Sterninae (Terns)
          a.. Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) [M]

  Columbiformes (Sandgrouse, Pigeons and Doves)
    Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
          a.. Rock Dove (Columba livia) [R]

          a.. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) [R]

  Strigiformes (Owls)
    Strigidae (Typical Owls)
          a.. Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) [R]

  Apodiformes (Swifts and Hummingbirds)
    Apodidae (Swifts)
      Chaeturinae (Chaeturine Swifts)
          a.. Vaux's Swift (Chaetura vauxi) [M]

    Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
      Trochilinae (Typical Hummingbirds)
          a.. Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) [R]

          a.. Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) [M]

  Coraciiformes (Rollers, Motmots, Kingfishers and Allies)
    Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
      Cerylinae (Typical Kingfishers)
          a.. Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) [M, B]

  Piciformes (Puffbirds, Toucans, Woodpeckers & Allies)
    Picidae (Woodpeckers and Allies)
      Picinae (Woodpeckers)
          a.. Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber) [one record]

          a.. Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) [R]

          a.. Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) [a few records]

          a.. Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) [R]

  Passeriformes (Passerine Birds)
    Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
      Fluvicolinae (Fluvicoline Flycatchers)
          a.. Pacific-slope Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis) [M]

      Tyranninae (Tyrannine Flycatchers)
          a.. Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) [M]

    Laniidae (Shrikes)
          a.. Northern Shrike (Lanius excubitor) [M]

    Vireonidae (Vireos)
          a.. Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) [M]

    Corvidae (Crows and Jays)
          a.. Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) [R]

          a.. Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica) [R]

          a.. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) [R]

          a.. Common Raven (Corvus corax) [a few records]

    Hirundinidae (Swallows)
      Hirundininae (Typical Swallows)
          a.. Purple Martin (Progne subis) [M, B]

          a.. Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) [M, B]

          a.. Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) 
          a.. Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) [M]

          a.. Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) [M]

          a.. Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) [M, B]

          a.. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) [M, B]

    Paridae (Chickadees and Titmice)
          a.. Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) [R]

          a.. Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens) [M]

    Aegithalidae (Long-tailed Tits and Bushtits)
          a.. Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus) [R]

    Sittidae (Nuthatches)
      Sittinae (Typical Nuthatches)
          a.. Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) [R?]

    Certhiidae (Creepers)
      Certhiinae (Northern Creepers)
          a.. Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) [R]

    Troglodytidae (Wrens)
          a.. Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) [M]

          a.. House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) [M]

          a.. Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) [R]

          a.. Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) [M]

    Regulidae (Kinglets)
          a.. Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) [M]

          a.. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) [M]

    Turdidae (Thrushes)
          a.. Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) [M]

          a.. Townsend's Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) [two records]

          a.. Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) [M]

          a.. American Robin (Turdus migratorius) [R]

          a.. Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius) [M]

    Sturnidae (Starlings)
          a.. European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) [R]

    Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
          a.. American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) [M]

    Bombycillidae (Waxwings)
          a.. Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) [M]

    Parulidae (Wood-Warblers)
          a.. Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata) [M]

          a.. Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) [M]

          a.. Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata) [R]

          a.. Townsend's Warbler (Dendroica townsendi) [M]

          a.. Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) [M]

          a.. Wilson's Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla) [M]

    Thraupidae (Tanagers)
          a.. Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) [M]

    Emberizidae (Emberizids)
          a.. Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) [M, B]

          a.. Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) [M]

          a.. Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) [M]

          a.. Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata) [M]

          a.. Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) [M]

          a.. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) [R]

          a.. Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) [M]

          a.. White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) [M]

          a.. White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) [M]

          a.. Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla) [M]

          a.. Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) [R]

    Cardinalidae (Cardinals, Saltators and Allies)
          a.. Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) [M. B]

    Icteridae (Blackbirds)
          a.. Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) [R]

          a.. Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) [R]

          a.. Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) [M]

          a.. Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii) [M]

    Fringillidae (Fringilline and Cardueline Finches and Allies)
      Carduelinae (Cardueline Finches)
          a.. Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus) [one record]

          a.. Cassin's Finch (Carpodacus cassinii) [M]

          a.. House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) [R]

          a.. Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus) [M]

          a.. Lesser Goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria) [M, B, R?]

          a.. American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) [M, B, R?]

    Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
          a.. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) [R]


Total number of species: 125



Good birding,

Mike Gellerman

18972 NW Northshore Ct

Portland, OR 97229

503 929 6555

mgellerman at raccondog.com
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