[obol] Jan. Lincoln Co. Bird Notes Received Through Jan. 28
Range Bayer
rbayer at orednet.org
Wed Feb 7 16:29:15 PST 2007
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BIRD FIELD NOTES from the January 2007 Sandpiper 28(1)
for Observations Received Through Jan. 28 by Range Bayer
The Sandpiper is a publication of Yaquina Birders & Naturalists, a
Lincoln County (Oregon) natural history group.
Comments in this column about abundance or seasonality refer to
LINCOLN COUNTY only. If you have any Lincoln County field notes, please
share them with Range (rbayer at orednet.org; P.O. Box 1467, Newport, OR
97365; 541-265-2965) by the 20th of the month. Bird field notes columns in
the Sandpiper since 1992 are at
http://www.orednet.org/~rbayer/lincoln/bird.htm#recent (all lower case
letters).
Many Lincoln Co. sites are in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide
(http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/).
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, 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, SALLYS BEND: large Yaquina Bay
embayment east of the LNG tank, THIEL CREEK: creek about 3.5 mi south of
Yaquina Bay bridge, YBSJ: Yaquina Bay South Jetty.
29 YEARS OF BEACHED BIRD SURVEYS COMPLETED
BLo has completed the report of beached bird surveys along 4.6 miles
of beach north of Ona Beach for 2006. Surveys were conducted approximately
weekly, with B&SLo walking the southern 2.85 mile portion, and L&VO
covering the northern 1.75 miles.
Not counting COMMON MURRE chicks, a total of 544 dead birds were
counted in 2006, compared to an average of 467 for the previous 28 years.
RHINOCEROS AUKLETS (143) led to the above average total. Unusually
high Rhino counts occurred in March (100; previous March high of 13) and
November (30; previous November high of 7). Causes of these peaks weren't
evident except to say that the March birds were in very poor condition as
if from a lack of food.
The WESTERN GREBE total of 43 in 2006 was the highest on record.
Murre chick numbers were low at 29 as were Sooty Shearwaters, which
matched last year's record low of 4. This continued the recent trend of
low numbers for Sooties.
Thanks to B&SLo and L&VO! It is a phenomenal effort to continue
these surveys and to have the results available so soon!
For more information about these surveys, contact BLo
(spoon101 at peak.org).
SWANS-HOODED MERGANSER
On 1/8, JL spotted two probable TUNDRA SWANS flying west over the
Newport Bayfront. The morning of 1/23, LB was greeted by an adult and two
immature probable Tundra Swans in the pasture near her Logsden home. In
one of her photos, they were larger than the nearby 4 WESTERN CANADA GEESE
in the pasture.
The high count this month of BLACK BRANT at Yaquina Bay was 162 at
Idaho Flats on 1/17 (JL). 5 CACKLING GEESE were at Idaho Flats on 1/22
(JL).
A male EURASIAN WIGEON was detected at Sally's Bend on 1/19 (JL) and
at Eckman Lake on 1/26 (RL).
A flock of 120 BLACK SCOTERS were north of Seal Rocks on 12/30 (KM).
A HARLEQUIN DUCK was out-of-place near the Wecoma Dock at the HMSC on
1/22 (JL). At the YBSJ, as many as 6 were enumerated in January (JL; CA);
and at least 2 were at Seal Rocks during the 1/20 YBNFT.
A male and a female HOODED MERGANSER took turns being near the HMSC
during 6 days in January (JL; BO). They didn't used to be so low in
Yaquina Estuary.
CALIFORNIA QUAIL-NIGHT-HERON
The 2 CALIFORNIA QUAIL at J&LM's home near east Sally's Bend since
late August lingered into mid-January.
December continued to have an extraordinarily high number of beached
WESTERN GREBES with 11 along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo,
L&VO). They also found 2 dead BROWN PELICANS in December. BLo notes that
the pelicans "undoubtedly lingered too long."
The continuously squawking GREAT BLUE HERON was last reported flying
over the HMSC towards the northwest at 5:38 PM on Dec. 27 (RB).
A GREAT EGRET was along a south Siletz Bay tidal channel on 1/12 (RB)
and at Beaver Creek during the 1/20 YBNFT.
On 6 days in January, JL noted an adult, often with an immature,
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON in lower Yaquina Bay. We have had more records
this winter than in past years, but this seems to be because their daytime
roost is where birders can see them, not necessarily because they are more
abundant. Their roost is vulnerable to human disturbance.
LINCOLN COUNTY RAPTOR ROUTE
The January Lincoln Co. raptor route was done in two sections because
of a rain-out on 1/6. 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. WH, WN, and RC did the southern part of the route on 1/6
and the northern portion on 1/13.
Adult Bald Eagles set a new record, and the number of subadults tied
the record. But this was the first Dec.-Feb. count without an American
Kestrel.
-------------------------------------------
Dec-Feb.____
Lincoln Co. 2004- 2005- 2006-2007
Raptor Route 2005* 2006@ 12/9 Jan#
-------------------------------------------
Turkey Vulture 0 0-1 0 0
No. Harrier 0-1 1-5 2 1
White-t. Kite 1-3 0-3 2 1
Sharp-shin. Hawk 1 1-2 0 0
Cooper's Hawk 0-2 0-4 2 1
Accipiter sp. 0 0-1 0 0
Red-should. Hawk 0-2 0 1 0
Red-tail. Hawk 10-14 18-22 17 14
Bald Eagle ad. 2-12 8+-16 18 22
" " subadults 1-4 1+-5 2 5
" " unknown 0 0-2 0 0
" " total 4-14 11-21 20 27
Merlin 0 0-1 1 1
Am. Kestrel 1-4 1-5 5 0
Peregrine Falcon 0-1 1-3 3 1
SUM 29-34 41-62 53 46
Counts 3* 3@ 1 1
Miles 119- 119- 118 120
121 120
Hours 7.3- 7- 7.5 6.8
7.5 8
Snowy Owl 0 0-1 0 0
Burrowing Owl 0 0 1 0
+=at least the indicated number was present.
* 12/18/2004, 1/16/2005, 2/12/2005.
@ 12/9/2005, 1/21/2006, 2/12/2006, 3/11/2006. The 3/11/2006 count is not
included in this Table so that it is comparable to the 2004-2005 winter but
is included in the March 2006 Sandpiper field notes.
# Because of rain, the south part of the January 2007 Route was on 1/6 and
the northern part on 1/13.
OTHER RAPTOR SIGHTINGS
A WHITE-TAILED KITE foraged south of the YBSJ during the 1/13 LCAFT,
and 1-2 were near the Toledo Airport on 1/23-27 (CP; SK).
BALD EAGLES have become common along the coast, but two adults taking
a bath, belly-deep in Logsden Lake across from the Logsden Store on 1/24
(BLl) is a noteworthy inland record.
At the HMSC, JL discovered a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK on 1/23 and a
COOPER'S HAWK on 1/3.
[Image Not Included: Kitty Brigham's Dec. 23 photo of a Red-tailed Hawk
along the beach near Seal Rocks. The hovering hawk appears to be shopping
for a pre-Christmas feast.]
A juvenile or adult RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was at the Oregon Coast
Aquarium/HMSC area on 12/10 & 11 (BLl) and 7 days in January (JL; RL; BO).
RL also found a juvenile in north Lincoln City at the junction of East
Devils Lake Road and HWY 101 on 1/24.
A PEREGRINE FALCON was reported at Yaquina Head on 12/2, 8, & 23
(BLM).
An AMERICAN KESTREL was at Yaquina Head during 7 days in December
(BLM) and at Beaver Creek during the 1/20 YBNFT.
COOT-HORNED PUFFIN
AMERICAN COOTS have made a good showing at Yaquina Bay this winter
(KM; JL; RB) after being relatively scarce in recent winters. Some also
graced the 1/20 YBNFT at Beaver Creek.
[Image Not Included: Terry Morse's Jan. 21 photo of a second year Glaucous
Gull at Nye Beach.]
As many as 7 mostly first-year GLAUCOUS GULLS rested at the "Gull
Puddle" near wide parking area at the YBSJ during 8 days in January (JL;
WH; CA). At Nye Beach in Newport, TM saw a 2nd year Glaucous on 1/21 &25.
A few Glaucous Gulls regularly occur here in winter (SemiL). I am not sure
that there has been an "invasion" of them this year. The apparent increase
may be a result of greater interest and more observation effort rather than
a real increase in their abundance.
14 CASSIN'S AUKLETS and 3 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS were dead along 4.6
miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). The number of Cassin's
declined from 29 in November.
DD found a rare, dead HORNED PUFFIN beached at Little Whale Cove on
1/9, and BLo said another was beached north of Ona Beach in early January.
OWLS
BLl recognized a BARN OWL two miles east of the town of Siletz on
12/11 and near Hamer Lake about 4 mi east of Nashville on 1/14.
On 1/21 at D&LF's home at Thornton Creek (which is about midway
between Toledo and Eddyville), DF reported:
"Got a real treat tonight. Around 8:30 p.m. I thought I heard a
WESTERN SCREECH OWL call. I gave an imitation hoot, and was instantly
answered by one about sixty yards away. We carried on a conversation
(although I didn't understand what he was saying) for a few exchanges, and
then another, presumably the mate chimed in from another 40 yards away.
They continued to sing a duet for several minutes, some with my prompting,
when from across the canyon on the far hillside, another bird got involved,
and, shortly, its mate as well. So Laura and I listened for a few minutes
to two Western Screech Owl duets being sung simultaneously. And I actually
had the sense, toward the end, to shut up and let the owls talk."
On 1/16, a NORTHERN PYGMY OWL called near LO's north Beaver Creek
home.
The healthy, but too-tame BURROWING OWL that attracted too much human
attention was captured by the Oregon State Police in Newport on Dec. 14.
It was cared for at Chintimini Wildlife Rehabilitation Center near
Corvallis until a good release site was decided. On Jan. 5, it was
released along the Lincoln County coast at an area that was chosen because
it was where they have been found in the past and was away from people and
roads (RB).
SNOW, COLD WEATHER, & BIRDS
It has been quite a winter with several windstorms and lots of rain.
It has been several years without snow, so we were surprised when there was
about 1-2 inches of snow on the ground and beach of Newport on Jan. 11. It
was warmer south of Newport, so there was no snow in Yachats, but there was
about 2 inches of snow on top of Cape Perpetua (MC). Snow remained on tree
branches the afternoon of Jan. 12 on the shady side of HWY 101 north of
Boiler Bay. Snow lingered for several days in shady spots with average
daily temperatures at the Newport Airport of 30-36 F during Jan. 11-14.
Such cold weather could be expected to affect birds, and it appeared
to have resulted in many more VARIED THRUSHES in the lowlands and also with
KINGLETS becoming more conspicuous. After there was snow on the ground,
Varied Thrushes for the first time ever started feeding at a hanging feeder
made for flickers filled with sunflower chips at J&KC's home about 4 miles
east of Waldport. Another first for their feeders was a RUBY-CROWNED
KINGLET at their peanut butter feeder.
At least one WESTERN BLUEBIRD near the Yaquina Head Interpretative
Center on 1/18 (PR) was our only report. After the 13 Feb. 1995 snow, 8
were at Yaquina Head, 3 near the Newport Coast Guard Station, 1+ at Seal
Rocks, and a dozen at the Yachats Cemetery. So bluebirds appear to seek
the coastline when it snows very much.
On 1/11 after the snow, BO "had 4 TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS walking around
my feet while pecking for food items near the Embarcadero" in Newport.
Feeders at BLl's home near Logsden were "very active during this cold
spell" and "24 or so PURPLE FINCHES seem more colorful than ever!"
At the HMSC on 1/11, RL noted "It's been a bit unusual watching the
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD feeding from a feeder covered with snow!" Freezing of
hummingbird feeders can present a problem. Locating the feeder near a
turned-on light bulb may help keep it warm or, as LM suggests, keep several
feeders at the ready and exchange with a frozen one as necessary.
OTHER TERRESTRIAL BIRD REPORTS
At J&KC's home 4 miles east of Waldport, JC reports "male ANNA'S
HUMMINGBIRDS have been doing their mating display since mid-January. Since
January 20th, the female Anna's have been collecting cotton for their
nests." So the cold may not have deterred them.
A RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER was drilling a cherry tree at King Street in
Yachats on 1/11 (fide BB), and another was at Chinook Bend on the Siletz
River about 2-3 miles from Siletz Bay on 1/24 (BLl).
After an absence of several weeks, 2 GRAY JAYS returned to BB's
feeders in Yachats on 1/24.
RL noted a flock of 12 BUSHTITS at the HMSC on 11/11, and a PALM
WARBLER lingering in a pine tree near the USFWS building along the HMSC
Nature Trail on 1/25.
An unseasonal adult female HERMIT WARBLER graced RC's & WN's home
north of Ona Beach on 1/8. Prior to 1993, we had records in January of
1984 and 1987 (SemiL).
An even more unseasonable CHIPPING SPARROW appeared at CP's Toledo
feeder on 1/28. Prior to 1993, we had no records during November-March
(SemiL).
A white-throated FOX SPARROW was at J&LM's home near east Sally's
Bend in mid-January, and a partial albino DARK-EYED JUNCO was at D&DG's
Toledo home in early Jan.
A WESTERN MEADOWLARK was at Yachats on 1/17 (SaL), and as many as 10
wintered at the HMSC during four days in Jan. (JL; BO).
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Cindy Ashy, Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Lydia Bosley,
Bureau of Land Management staff at Yaquina Head (BLM), Marsii Charron,
Rebecca Cheek, Jorrie & Ken Ciotti (http://www.birdsamore.com), Dick
Demarest, Darrel & Laura Faxon (also see
http://www.orednet.org/~rbayer/lincoln/bird.htm#thornton_creek), Dawn &
Doug Grafe, Wayne Hoffman, Steve Kupillas, Janet Lamberson, Lincoln City
Audubon Field Trip (LCAFT led by DD), Bob Llewellyn (BLl), Sally Lockyear
(SaL), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, John & Linda
McKown, Larry McQueen, Kathy Merrifield, Terry Morse, Walt Nelson, Bob
Olson, Laimons & Vicki Osis, Chuck Philo, Paul Reed, SemiL (semimonthly
Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at
http://www.orednet.org/~rbayer/lincoln/bird.htm#semimonthly [all lower case
letters]), Yaquina Birders & Naturalists Field Trip (YBNFT led by LO).
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