[obol] EASTERN TOWHEE at Malheur HQ Sunday 6/1

[Jim Carlson]

Becky and I found a male EASTERN TOWHEE at Malheur NWR HQ this afternoon around 1:00.  We originally found it in the lilac hedge just north of the Museum.  The bird eventually flew to the south to the southern boundary lilac hedge and was there when we left at 2 pm.  Pam and Pete Neumann and Tom McNamara also observed the bird for long periods of time.  I got a few pictures that I will try to download and send to someone to post tomorrow.  I will submit a rare bird report to OFO as well.
 
The bird had no spotting whatsoever on the scapulars, coverts or tertials.  There was a long white patch at the base of the primaries.  and some white edging on the primaries.  Otherwise the head and back were jet black.  It had a red eye.  The undertail was very white.  We watched the bird off and on for more than a hour.  There were few other birders present.
 
We did refind the female American redstart (that had been reported as a female painted redstart on the office flip chart).  Otherwise HQ still had a number of western migrants-warbling and Cassin's vireos, black-headed grosbeaks, western tanagers, Wilson's warblers and a western bluebird.
 
We also had a Swainson's thrush in the Fields oasis on Saturday, May 31 as an unusual Harney County bird.  
 
A common grackle was reported in the Page Springs campground on Saturday by Tom McNamara (this is probably the same bird that has been reported at Frenchglen and along the CPR over the Memorial day weekend).  A mockingbird was reported at the Steens Mountain resort.
 
Jim Carlson
jmcrlsn at yahoo.com


      
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