[obol] Aug. Lincoln Co. Bird Notes Through Aug. 28
Range Bayer
rbayer at orednet.org
Fri Sep 15 16:50:46 PDT 2006
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BIRD FIELD NOTES from the August 2006 Sandpiper 27(6)
for Observations Received Through Aug. 28 by Range Bayer
The Sandpiper is a publication of Yaquina Birders & Naturalists, a
Lincoln County (Oregon) natural history group.
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,
HY=hatch year (bird hatched in the current calendar year), 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, MIKE MILLER PARK: county park 1.2 miles south of the Yaquina
Bay Bridge on the east side of Hwy 101, ONA BEACH: State Park about 6.6 mi
south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, SALLYS BEND:
large Yaquina Bay embayment east of the LNG tank, THORNTON CREEK: about
midway between Toledo and Eddyville along HWY 20, WANDEMERE: about 0.5 mi
north of Ona Beach near HWY 101, YBSJ: Yaquina Bay South Jetty.
Tons of Bird Observations
Thanks to the many observers who have shared their observations for
June-August! I have 52 pages of emailed notes (343K) plus another 15-25
pages of mailed notes and about a dozen telephone calls with sightings.
Needless to say, there is not room to include everything in this column! I
can only include what I think are the highlights of the highlights! Thanks
for your patience!
All notes received are useful and are stored in the hope that they
will be compiled to give more information about the Birds of Lincoln
County. So please don't be bashful--share your sightings! Our shared
observations can help, even if they are not included in the Sandpiper.
YELLOW-BILLED LOON-WHITE CORMORANT
LN found a YELLOW-BILLED LOON along with a COMMON LOON at Sallys Bend
on 7/24. Both were relocated on 7/27 (RH & BBl).
While doing the Salado Breeding Bird Survey on 6/11, JS discovered a
PIED-BILLED GREBE with four grebelets at the pond across from the Logsden
Store.
30-65 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES were noted during pelagic trips from
Newport on 8/8 (BD) and 8/19 & 20 (BGPT). Also noted were NORTHERN
FULMARS, SOOTY, and PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, as many as 500 FORK-TAILED
STORM-PETRELS, and, during the 8/19 &20 trips, 35 BULLER'S SHEARWATERS
(BGPT).
[Image Not Included: Dave Pitkin's cropped photo from a boat of a faintly
visible normal-plumaged and an all-white Pelagic Cormorant atop a nest
white-washed with droppings and a normal-plumaged Pelagic Cormorant at a
nest to the lower left at Cape Foulweather on 16 August 2006.]
During nesting seabird surveys from a boat off Cape Foulweather on
8/16, DP & KS's attention was drawn to an all-white PELAGIC CORMORANT.
Interestingly, AS reported a white Pelagic Cormorant in the same area on 4
& 5 August 2004--could it be the same bird two years later?
BROWN PELICANS were often appreciated.
THIS COULD BE THE YEAR!
HS discovered an AMERICAN BITTERN at Mike Miller Park on 7/15--they
may be a common species that are rarely seen.
RB heard the continuously squawking GREAT BLUE HERON flying again
over the HMSC just after dusk on 6/5, 8, & 14.
This could be the year that the number of GREAT EGRETS at minus low
tides is greater than the number of GREAT BLUE HERONS at Yaquina Bay
embayments. Embayments include Sallys Bend, Idaho Flats, and the
embayments south of Sallys Bend. Heron numbers peak in July and August,
but egret numbers in the past have peaked in September-October. RB's peak
heron count this year was 156 on 7/28, and he counted 141 herons and 79
egrets on 8/13. On 7/14, BLl counted 40 flying over the Oregon Coast
Aquarium, and 72-76 were just at Idaho Flats on 8/16 (JL; TW). On 8/27, KM
counted 92 egrets. Will this be the year?
There were also 2 GREAT EGRETS at Yachats Bay on 8/17 (BBa).
RN found a SNOWY EGRET south of Cutler City in Siletz Bay on 7/12.
On 6/28, two fledgling GREEN HERONS along with one adult were at the
south end of Eckman Lake (RL). Unlike Great Blues, adult Green Herons
remain with fledglings away from the nest for a while.
WATERFOWL
WESTERN CANADA GEESE appear to have done extraordinarily well at
Yaquina Bay with 22 at Yaquina Bay embayments on 7/30 (KM), 65 on 8/13
(RB), and "probably at least 150" on 8/27 (KM). The first flock of
southbound Westerns was noted at Newport on 7/25 (RB).
[Image Not Included: Kitty Brigham's photo of 9 Brant along the ocean
shore at Seal Rocks on 26 June 2006. View is looking west towards the
ocean and sun.]
Nonbreeding BRANT often linger during summer, and KB found 7-11 along
the beach almost daily during 6/24-7/3 just north of Seal Rocks near her
home, but none thereafter. A dead BRANT was found along 4.6 miles of beach
north of Ona Beach on 7/13 (B&SLo, L&VO)--could this be one of the 11?
An unseasonable LONG-TAILED DUCK was along the YBSJ during the 7/1 BG
pelagic trip.
A HOODED MERGANSER with 5 chicks and a WOOD DUCK were admired during
the 6/17 YBNFT to Mike Miller Park.
9 COMMON MERGANSERS were at Idaho Flats on 6/5 (RL). On 8/21, JL
detected 3 Common or Red-breasted Mergansers at Idaho Flats. Common
Mergansers nest here and often show up in summer in the lower estuaries
where they are not found in winter. Red-breasteds do not nest here.
Common Merganser females and immatures in summer can look very similar to
female Red-breasteds and can only be safely told apart then by bill and
head shape and nostril position (Kaufman 1990 Am. Birds 44:1203-1205 and in
his "A Field Guide to Advanced Birding"). Red-breasteds should be arriving
in mid-October, although a few Red-breasteds identified on the basis of
their bill have occasionally been found lingering in summer. In winter,
female Commons and Red-breasteds can be easily distinguished as shown in
most field guides.
RAPTORS-SHOREBIRDS
JW knows of 3 active OSPREY nests in the Waldport area: Eckman Lake
power pole, High School light pole, and a snag west of HWY 101 in the
Bayshore area.
On 7/22, ML watched an adult PEREGRINE FALCON kill and eat a young
California Gull at Idaho Flats. A juvenile (HY=hatch year) Peregrine
perched on a utility wire near the HMSC on 7/29 (TD & SS), and a Peregrine
was also at Yaquina Head on 7/28 & 29 (BLM).
One CALIFORNIA QUAIL calling at RL's Eckman Lake home on 6/4 is a
first for that location as is one calling at JL's home about midway between
Toledo and Siletz near HWY 229 on 8/21. One was in the dead alder between
the EPA Building and HMSC Nature Trail on 6/5 (JL) is more expected as they
have occasionally been noted in recent years in the HMSC-Mike Miller Park
area.
Oversummering, nonbreeding shorebirds included a MARBLED GODWIT in
worn plumage and 36 WHIMBRELS on 5/28 about a mile south of Ona Beach (WH).
On 6/9, 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS at Eckman Lake flew south and may have been
nonbreeders or failed breeders (RL).
Signs of shorebird migration: 1 Greater Yellowlegs at Eckman Lake on
6/28 (JW), 600-800 "peeps" (TW; PL) or at least 500 WESTERN SANDPIPERS (DD)
at Idaho Flats on 7/3, 93 WHIMBRELS at a Seal Rocks beach on 7/22 (KB &
RB), a MARBLED GODWIT at Nye Beach in Newport on 7/27 (TM), and a RUDDY
TURNSTONE and 4 MARBLED GODWITS at Seal Rocks on 7/30 (KM).
RED-NECKED PHALAROPES
On 8/12, JL spotted four RED-NECKED PHALAROPES in the channel near
the HMSC, and some have lingered throughout the month.
On 8/20, the BLM's JW told CA about some Red-necked Phalaropes at
Cobble Beach at Yaquina Head, and CA counted 22 floating around in the
water. They are not the first to find phalaropes there. A 1902 paper by
Bernard J. Bretherton (who was an assistant keeper at what was then called
the Cape Foulweather Lighthouse) noted "a merry little band of seven"
phalaropes that swam around in a decreasing flock during the day for a
week. At night, one by one, they were attracted to the then continuous
light of the Lighthouse, flew into the glass surrounding the light, and
died. Bretherton picked up six of them, and the Lighthouse cat had the
seventh. The now intermittently flashing Yaquina Head light does not
appear to attract birds at night.
JAEGERS-MARBLED MURRELET
2-4 POMARINE JAEGERS, 1-10 PARASITIC JAEGERS, and 4 LONG-TAILED
JAEGERS were counted during 8/19 & 20 pelagic trips (BGPT). A Pomarine and
a Parasitic were also noted during an 8/8 pelagic trip from Newport (BD).
3-10 SABINE'S GULLS were seen during pelagic trips from Newport on
8/8 (BD) and 8/19 & 20 (BGPT).
CALIFORNIA GULLS immigrate here in big numbers in July. This year
was no exception with KM counting 1,500 by estimating them in blocks of 50
at Idaho Flats on 7/30--they were accompanied by 4 adult RING-BILLED GULLS.
An ARCTIC TERN was at the YBSJ on 8/16 (JL; DG).
Beached bird numbers did not seem excessively high along 4.6 miles of
beach north of Ona Beach during June-July (B&SLo, L&VO). COMMON MURRE
numbers were low in June (B&SLo, L&VO). BLo writes: "Our dead, beached
bird survey is in it's 29th year, and we had 32 adult murres in July and 6
so far in August. Numbers vary considerably, but 32 is in the usual range
for the month." The record July total of adults was 181 last year. Only 3
murre chicks were found in July along their beach (B&SLo, L&VO), which
suggests that murres may not have had a good nesting year again this year.
In good nesting years, more murre chicks are usually found beached.
During BGPT's 8/20 pelagic trip from Newport, 120 chick/father pairs
of Common Murres were noted, so some murres nested successfully, but their
overall nesting success is unclear.
MC & PV spotted a CASSIN'S AUKLET at Depoe Bay on 7/23.
On 7/17, RC writes: "If coastal visitors are interested in seeing
MARBLED MURRELETS on their dawn flights to nesting areas, now is the time
and Cape Perpetua Scenic area is the place. All that is required is to
haul oneself out of bed in time to be at the Cape Creek Campground by 5 AM.
Drive to the end of the campground road, park, get out of the car and look
up at the sky. (Even easier would be to camp there and go outside at first
light.) Murrelets can be seen flying above treetop level as they circle or
commute between nest trees and ocean. On 7/16, the show began about 5:15
AM and was over by 6 AM. We saw about 20 birds flying in ones and twos,
though some may be have been seen multiple times as there was a lot of
circling flight. Despite quiet conditions we did not hear any
vocalizations, which possibly indicates the nest trees are nearby."
15 MARBLED MURRELETS were on the ocean just north of the mouth of the
Yachats River on 7/30 (KM).
LESSER NIGHTHAWK-PILEATED WOODPECKER
On 6/21 & 22, RT & CS reported hearing a rare LESSER NIGHTHAWK at
Beverly Beach State Park (fide TS). No sightings were noted. This appears
to be the first report for Lincoln County.
Our latest EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE report was of a pair in Newport on
6/2 (CA). A juvenile MOURNING DOVE was at RC & WN's Wandemere feeder on
7/16.
The adult male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD DF saw on 7/26 at his Thornton
Creek home was only the third adult male he has seen in July and later than
the others by three weeks.
A PILEATED WOODPECKER was pecking at B&MB's big black walnut tree and
an old cherry tree at Thornton Creek on 5/30.
WESTERN SCRUB-JAY
Scrub jays seemed to be exceptionally common this summer. A bright
adult was at EH's South Beach home from 5/20 until mid-June.
1 scrub jay was at Grant Street in Newport 2 blocks east of the High
School throughout the summer according to residents (fide CP). However,
frequent records are needed to determine if this jay may have come and
gone. CP saw or heard one there in early June, two on 6/29, and one in
late August.
A blue headed adult was at J&KC's home 4 miles east of Waldport "on
and off" between 5/27 and 7/2-- it "seems to stay around for a week then
he's off and then he's back." It was absent between 7/3 and 7/11, when it
returned.
Other sites of scrub jay sightings during June 5-6 include: 1 adult
at LO's North Beaver Creek home and at least one at Yaquina View Heights in
Newport (CP) and in Toledo (CP). Late June records include one adult at
DD's Little Whale Cove home on 6/26 and an adult at San Bay-O Circle in
Newport on 6/29 (CP). One at the HMSC or across the street was noted on
6/28 (RB), 7/6 (RL), 7/7 (JL), 7/21 (RN), and 7/22 (ML).
STELLER'S JAY-BEWICK'S WREN
This year and last year, J&KC have had a STELLER'S JAY sitting on the
ground, jumping into plants and eating bumble bees at their home 4 miles
east of Waldport. Jays are adaptable!
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS could be mistaken for Bank Swallows as
they are about the same color and also nest in banks, but Bank Swallows
have not been verified here in years. At least a pair of Rough-wings
appeared to be nesting in a bank at Seal Rocks and at Eckman Lake on 5/29
(KM).
HS was fortunate enough to have a BEWICK'S WREN nesting near his
Newport home in early June and a good video camera. He writes: "I set up
my camera on the far end of the deck, set the zoom to max, hit record, and
walked away for an hour. When I retrieved and reviewed the tape, I can see
the wrens coming and going, rotating their eggs, mates feeding each other,
etc ...it's really cool! I wound up shooting about 25 hours of videotape
in total, watching and cutting out all the boring moments, and the boiled-
down VHS tape runs about 2.5 hours. It starts out with the [presumed]
female sitting on unhatched eggs, and follows the chicks' development from
the day after they were born to the day I found the nest empty about 4
weeks later." If you would like to see the tape, please contact Howard
Shippey (viadv at mindspring.com; 574-1689).
[Image Not Included: Howard Shippey's photo of a Bewick's Wren attending
nestlings in a neighbor's blue flower pot in Newport in early June.]
AMERICAN REDSTART-LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH
On 6/22, EH heard a second-year male AMERICAN REDSTART singing at the
9 mile marker on North Beaver Creek Road. On 6/25, an immature (SY)
American Redstart showed up briefly at EH's South Beach home. These appear
to be the first records for Lincoln County.
A well-described, rare COMMON GRACKLE (a juvenile) appeared at RC &
WN's Wandemere home at a feeder on 7/21. It is the second record for
Lincoln County. The other record was on 5 July 1988.
Lincoln County's first LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH graced CP's sunflower
feeder in Toledo on 6/6.
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Cindy Ashy, Betty Bahn (BBa), Bill & Margy Barss,
Range Bayer, Bryan Bland (BBl), Kitty Brigham, Bureau of Land Management
staff at Yaquina Head (BLM), Rebecca Cheek, Jorrie & Ken Ciotti
(http://www.birdsamore.com), Marcia Cutler, Dick Demarest, Bruce Dugger,
Todd Dunkirk, Darrel Faxon (some of DF's bird records are at
http://www.orednet.org/~rbayer/lincoln/bird.htm#thornton_creek), Dawn
Grafe, Bird Guide Pelagic Trip (BGPT; info about pelagic trips,
http://thebirdguide.com), Wayne Hoffman, Eric Horvath, Rich Hoyer, Margaret
LaFaive, Janet Lamberson, Pete Lawson, Bob Llewellyn (BLl), Bob Loeffel
(BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Kathy Merrifield, Terry Morse,
Russ Namitz, Walt Nelson, Lars Norgren, Laimons & Vicki Osis, Chuck Philo,
Dave Pitkin, Alan Schmierer, Howard Shippey, Jamie Simmons, Khem So, Stacy
Strickland, Tom Snetsinger, Craig Strong, Ryan Terrill, Paula Vanderheul,
Tom Wainwright, Janelle Wesley, Jean Weakland, Yaquina Birders &
Naturalists Field Trip (YBNFT led by EH).
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