[obol] Jan. Lincoln Co. Bird Notes Received Through 1/31
Range Bayer
rbayer at orednet.org
Thu Feb 14 17:29:15 PST 2008
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BIRD FIELD NOTES from the January 2008 Sandpiper 29(1)
for Observations Received Through 1/31 by Range Bayer
The Sandpiper is a publication of Yaquina Birders and 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, 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.
JAN. 5 YAQUINA BAY CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
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!
30 YEARS: BEACHED BIRD REPORT FOR 2007
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!
WATERFOWL
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
|''''|''''|''''|''''|''''|''''|'''
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.
BROWN PELICAN-GREAT EGRET
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.]
RAPTORS
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).
LINCOLN COUNTY RAPTOR ROUTE
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).
-------------------------------------------
Dec-Feb.__________________
Lincoln Co. 2004- 2007 2008
Raptor Route 2007* 12/8 1/20
-------------------------------------------
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.
AMERICAN COOT-HORNED PUFFIN
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 at 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.
BURROWING OWL
[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
http://www.orednet.org/~rbayer/lincoln/ethics-b.htm). The American Birding
Association's (ABA) "Principles of Birding Ethics"
(http://www.americanbirding.org/abaethics.htm) 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 HUMMINGBIRD-COMMON RAVEN
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
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 BLUEBIRD-PINE SISKIN
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
http://www.orednet.org/~rbayer/lincoln/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 http://www.orednet.org/~rbayer/lincoln/bird.htm#semimonthly [all lower
case letters]), Howard Shippey, Tom Wainwright, Monika Wieland, Yaquina
Birders & Naturalists Field Trip (YBNFT led by LO).
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