[obol] Yamhill County Red-eyed Vireo

[donalbri at teleport.com]

This morning I finally found a bit of time to visit the traditional Red-eyed Vireo site in riparian forest on Grand Island, in southeastern Yamhill County.  I managed to find a total of one singing RED-EYED VIREO at the site.  It was singing continuously at 8 a.m. from a point maybe 1/4 mile in along the trail, just past the first clearing where the trail cuts through towering reed canary grass, from cottonwoods a couple hundred feet to the right of the trail.

No other especially notable birds along the trail.  There were still good numbers of singing SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS in the forest, and a couple YELLOW WARBLERS in the willows along the river at the end of the trail.  Good numbers of SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, KILLDEER and a single adult BALD EAGLE along the river.  Also a few agates on the gravel bar there.

To get to the site:
Approximately 12 miles north of Salem, or 9 miles south of Dayton, turn east off Highway 221 (Wallace Road) onto Grand Island Road.  After 1.2 miles, turn right (south) onto Upper Island Road.  After another 1.2 miles, stop at a small parking spot on the right side of the road, right next to a white gate and a sign that says that the gate may be closed from dusk to dawn.  At this point there is a trail that enters the forest on the south side of the road, and proceeds through the gallery forest for a half mile or more to a channel of the Willamette River.  In years past, several Red-eyed Vireos have been heard along this trail.  This year they appear to be less numerous, since at least two people before me have been unable to find any, and I only found one.  Be sure to wear long pants and long sleeves, as there are stinging nettles aplenty hanging over the trail.  Don't be too intimidated by the first hundred feet or so of the trail, which is rather overgrown:  once the trail gets into the gallery forest, the trail is in most places easily walkable.