[obol] Seaside, Clatsop Co. report

[David Bailey]

Not too much to report, but in case anyone was wondering. There have 
been more SURF SCOTERS than there have been all winter long feeding off 
the Seaside Cove in SW Seaside. Up to 1500 have been feeding in tight 
rafts that look like a black slick on the water to the naked eyes. Steve 
Warner reports seeing feeding GRAY WHALES out with them this week, but 
Eva and I were unsuccessful in seeing any Cetaceans yesterday. I have 
been doing casual sea watches for several weeks now and still have yet 
to see a tube nose, though I am trying my best to catch a glimpse of a 
Manx Shearwater one of these days. CASPIAN TERNS are now regular in the 
Necanicum Estuary and about town, including over our home this morning. 
A flock of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew over this morning and a 
COWBIRD sang from a nearby treetop. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS are making 
their presence known throughout town by their chip notes. At the Seaside 
Cove I have seen over the last couple weeks the fascinating migration of 
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS as they buzz off Tillamook Head, descend to near 
eye-level at times, and head out directly North across the ocean towards 
the SW Washington. Sometimes when Steve is out surfing he sees them buzz 
by him. I think he should wear a red cap this time of year when he 
surfs, just to see if he can increase his encounters. I would bet that 
the next sunny day down here the RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS will be launching 
off the Head with the frequency of dozens or more per hour during the 
middle part of the day. I have seen them at the past going off at about 
1 per minute or more. I find the best place to watch (and to sea-watch 
in general) is to drive up the road past the park to the public access 
road just west of the Lanai Motel, park on the street and walk out to 
the cobble beach. This way one is closer to the forested Head and cliffs.

My rather cursory Snowy Plover survey of Gearhart Spit produced zero 
sightings. The spit has changed quite a bit with the storms last winter 
and the meandering of the river mouth. There are now 14 foot tall sheer 
cliffs in the foredune where there a few months ago were only modest 
relief. One does not want for highly noticeable changes in landscape 
when living at the ocean shore.

The short yard list below from birdnotes.net will no doubt have to be 
edited for additions as the day progresses.

David Bailey
Seaside, Oregon

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Census Count: 331 Avenue I, Seaside, OR 97138, Seaside, 
Clatsop County, Oregon on April 13, 2008
Date: 	Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:12:17 GMT
From: 	baileydc at pdx.edu
To: 	baileydc at pdx.edu



This report was mailed for David C. Bailey by http://birdnotes.net

Date: April 13, 2008
Location: 331 Avenue I, Seaside, OR 97138, Seaside, Clatsop County, Oregon


South Seaside Yard birds this morning

Birds seen (in taxonomic order):

Greater White-fronted Goose       100
Caspian Tern                        1
Rufous Hummingbird                  1
Northern Flicker                    1
Steller's Jay                       1
American Crow                       1
Black-capped Chickadee              2
European Starling                   1
Orange-crowned Warbler              1
White-crowned Sparrow               1
Golden-crowned Sparrow              2
Dark-eyed Junco                     1
Brown-headed Cowbird                1 [1] 
House Finch                         2

Footnotes:

[1]  Brown-headed Cowbird: Male, first of the year, heard singing and
     then seen.

Total number of species seen: 14