[obol] Black Phoebe, Fern Ridge area, Coyote Creek

[expert-41486 at mypacks.net]

I saw a Black Phoebe near Fern Ridge Reservoir Thursay eve (July 3). I was on the dike on the east side of the creek where there's a wide opening in the trees along the creek, a little north of Cantrell Road. I think there was a second phoebe close to it.  I noticed the second bird further back in the tree just before both birds took flight. From a short glimpse, it seemed to be the same size & shape as the first Black Phoebe, but I didn't really see the second bird well.

Black Phoebe outside of southern Oregon is a good bird for me but, if I understand correctly, they aren't real uncommon near Fern Ridge now. The Fern Ridge checklist from ODFW states the 1st breeding record was in 2006.

Mike Bogar