[obol] RBA: Probable ALDER FLYCATCHER along Aufderheide Dr. in e. Lane County today

[Arch McCallum]

I visited this spot yesterday. The directions are excellent. I didn't 
get there until 1130 on a warm day, so I didn't expect much, but it 
seemed from Dave's description like a decent place for an Alder to 
breed in OR, and I have been wanting to check it out. Just where the 
alder bushes spread out (see Dave's description below), I found a 
Willow Flycatcher giving a whit call and foraging actively. I would 
guess this was a male with a mate on a nest nearby. I got good looks 
at this bird and it seemed like a typical Oregon wifl: weak wingbars, 
essential no eyering, and brownish mantle. I think most of us would 
notice a slight difference (brighter wingbars and eyering, a bit of 
green in the dorsal coloration) if we got a good look at an Alder in OR.

I went upstream toward the Landis Cabin without hearing many birds. I 
was able to pish up a Song Sparrow, 2 Lincoln's Sparrows, a Yellow 
Warbler, and a Warbling Vireo. This may have started a second Willow 
Flycatcher whitting out in the alders, which were extensive at this location.

At this point I was reminded that Dave's observation, despite being 
on 18 June, was similar to Randy Moore's last year in late May: a lot 
of birds in a small area, all vocalizing. I went to Randy's location 
twice a few days later, and there were no Traill's Flycatchers in 
evidence at all. That suggests a concentration of migrants. On the 
other hand, there is enough habitat at Dave's site to accommodate all 
the birds he saw, in breeding territories, and it is easy to imagine 
most of them being silent at noon. So, I don't know. I'd like to go 
back to this lovely spot at dawn or dusk. If anyone is up that way, 
drop by. For those who have never driven this rd (FS 19 or 
Aufderheide Drive), it is a wonderful byway. Paved all the way, much 
smoother than most Eugene streets, under an uninterrupted canopy of 
tall mixed conifers. There is a slew of Forest Service campgrounds on 
that road. I think we will try a camping trip up there.

Oh yes, as I returned to my car, a Willow Flycatcher had begun 
singing from the tops of the tallest conifers, at a fast pace. You 
never can tell about these guys.
Also heard: MacWarb and Sw. Thrush.

Best wishes,

Arch McCallum
Eugene

At 06:56 AM 6/18/2008 +0000, David Irons wrote:
>Greetings All,
>
>Today, while birding along Aufderheide Dr. in e. Lane County, I had 
>a "Traills" (Willow/Alder) type flycatcher that was giving a sharp 
>"pip" or "peep" call note that sounded like that of an Alder 
>Flycatcher.  There was also a Willow Flycatcher at the same site and 
>a couple more at nearby Box Canyon Station, all of which were 
>uttering the standard softer "whit" call note of that species. The 
>call note of the bird in question had sharp quality sort of like a 
>loud version of a Hammond's Flycatcher call note.  I listened to the 
>wav. file of the Ingram Island Alder Flycatcher, found last year by 
>Randy Moore, and the sound file of the call notes of that bird sound 
>very similar to what I heard today.  There were at least two 
>"Traill's" Flycatchers at this site, along with a Dusky Flycatcher.
>
>To reach the site from the Willamette Valley, take Hwy 126 east from 
>Springfield about 40 miles until you pass the town of Blue 
>River.  Continue a few more miles and turn right (south) at the sign 
>for Cougar Res./Aufderheide Dr.  From there, follow the signs up 
>Auderheide Dr., which wraps around the west side of Cougar Res. and 
>follows the south fork of the Willamette

actually, s frk of McKenzie R.

>River for many miles.  You will go about 29 miles on Auderheide Dr. 
>and then turn left on F.S. Rd. 1958.  If you reach the spot where 
>snow is still blocking the road, you've gone about 1/2 mile too 
>far.  There is a sign at this intersection that says "Crossing 
>Way."  This road immediately opens into a meadow that has a small 
>boggy creek running through it.  There is a dense low alder thicket 
>all along the creek.  Park by the creek and walk about 100-150 
>meters to the south until the boggy area fans out and the vegetation 
>is a little taller.  Today, all the flycatchers were feeding, and 
>calling right at the north edge of where the thicket broadens 
>out.  I took dozens of images of "Traill's" Flycatchers, and I may 
>have images of the bird that was giving the Alder-like call 
>note.  Incredibly, neither of these birds ever sang a full "fitz 
>bew" or "fee-beo" song.  They did chase each other around some and I 
>heard some agitated chatter, but otherwise only single call notes 
>were heard.  It was about 3:30-4:00PM when I was there, so these 
>birds may sing more in the AM.
>
>This area is sort of miniature version of the Salt Creek Bog 
>opposite the Waldo Lake turnoff on Hwy 58 east of Oakridge.  It 
>extends further to the south, all the way to Box Canyon Station, 
>which is about 1/2 mile further south on Aufderheide Dr.   My 
>original intention was to drive all the way through to Hwy 58 at 
>Westfir, but Aufderheide Dr. is still blocked by snow just a few 
>hundred yards beyond the parking area for Box Canyon Station (there 
>is an old cabin here).  I birded all along this boggy area and found 
>the following species:
>
>Willow Flycatcher -- several based on call notes
>Dusky Flycatcher -- one at F.S. Rd. 1958 and one at Box Canyon Station
>Yellow Warbler -- both sites
>Yellow-rumped Warbler (auduboni) -- both sites
>MacGillivray's Warbler -- one at Box Canyon Station
>Lincoln's Sparrow -- 2-3 at Box Canyon Station
>Song Sparrow -- both sites
>Dark-eyed Junco -- both sites
>
>I have to work the next several days and will not have a chance to 
>get back up there at an earlier hour.  Since both Alders and Willows 
>are late migrants, and neither of these birds were singing, it is 
>conceivable they are migrants, but  it looks like good nesting 
>habitat.  If you have a tape/iPod/CD player, I would take along 
>Northern Waterthrush recordings and play them.  This spot looks 
>great for that species as well.
>
>Dave Irons
>Eugene, OR
>
>
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