[obol] Oregon Big Day report

[Tim Janzen]

Dear All,
	Yesterday, May 31, Dave Irons, Jay Withgott, and I ran an Oregon Big
Day.  We found a total of 211 species, which is the 7th highest Big Day
total in Oregon.  Weather conditions west of the Cascades were almost
perfect with plenty of clouds and little wind.  We started in Eugene for
BARRED OWL and WESTERN SCREECH-OWL.  We tried for Grasshopper Sparrow along
Belts Road in Linn County, but were unsuccessful at hearing any.  However,
while listening for the sparrow, we heard a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL and a
GREAT HORNED OWL calling nearby.
	We then headed for the coast where we birded in the hills east of
Yachats.  A very large tree branch blocked our route up Cummins Peak Road,
but I was fortunately able to drive around it without going over the
embankment while putting only a few scratches on my Jeep.  We were
successful in relocating several GRAY JAYS that Jay had found while scouting
the day before and a MOUNTAIN QUAIL, as well as the other expected species.
We spent about 45 minutes doing a seawatch at Yachats, which produced the
normally occurring pelagic species, but nothing overly special other than a
late GREATER SCAUP, which Jay had also seen the day before while scouting.
There seemed to still be quite a few loons and alcids migrating by.
	After hitting various viewpoints between Yachats and Florence we
went out to the North Jetty at the mouth of the Siuslaw River where we were
pleased to spot two lingering BRANTS.  We then headed to Fern Ridge
Reservoir near Eugene where most of the expected species were readily seen
including several AMERICAN WIGEON.  We were unable to relocate the
Fork-tailed Storm Petrel, a real shocker that Dave had found there on May 30
while scouting.
	Due to increased efficiency at finding the needed species on our
route we were able to leave Eugene somewhat ahead of schedule at about 12:30
pm.  We then headed over the Cascades making a few stops for species such as
NASHVILLE WARBLER.  We missed BLACK SWIFT at Salt Creek Falls even though I
had seen four birds there on May 30 while scouting.
	Near Gilchrist we added CLARK'S NUTCRACKER, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH,
and a CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD on territory.  We then headed to Cabin Lake where
most of birds I had found while scouting were still on territory including a
LEWIS'S WOODPECKER at a nest and a WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER near a nest, but I
was disappointed to find the WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER nest hole that I had
located on May 30 inactive.
	As we headed south from Cabin Lake we found the usual variety of
raptors in the area of Fort Rock, but we could see a large storm front
hitting the area around Silver Lake and Summer Lake.  We knew we were in for
real trouble.  The storm hit us with full force as we drove through Paulina
Marsh.  As we had somewhat expected, we couldn't find any Ash-throated
Flycatchers, Lark Sparrows, or Black-throated Sparrows, at least in part due
to the storm.  A stiff cold wind was blowing as we arrived in Summer Lake,
but at least it wasn't raining there.  We had more time than was typical for
making the tour loop around the Summer Lake NWR due to skipping some other
planned stops.  This ended up being time put to good use as we were able to
find a late COMMON GOLDENEYE and two GREEN-WINGED TEAL that Jay spotted near
Windbreak Dike and a basic plumaged HORNED GREBE that Dave found on
Schoolhouse Lake.  We also saw a total of eight SNOWY PLOVERS at two
locations, two being along the shores of Schoolhouse Lake and six being
about 1/2 mile south of Schoolhouse Lake.  In addition, we found three
COMMON NIGHTHAWKS at Summer Lake.
	As darkness fell we realized that we had found a lot of important
species during the last 1/2 hour of daylight, but we had missed too many
other target species during the rest of the day to have any chance of
breaking the Oregon Big Day record.  We finished off the evening with a
COMMON POORWILL about 2 miles north of Summer Lake, a FLAMMULATED OWL near
Silver Lake, and YELLOW RAILS, SORAS, and VIRGINIA RAILS calling at Klamath
Forest NWR.
	On the way back to Eugene today we spent some time birding around
Davis Lake.  This ended up being quite interesting as we found two ROCK
WRENS near the Cascade Lakes Highway just east of Davis Lake in habitat not
typical of Rock Wrens.  The ROCK WRENS seemed to be utilizing several large
piles of logging debris that were present there.  We were also surprised to
see and hear at least two BREWER'S SPARROWS in the same general area.  There
is also an active BALD EAGLE nest there and we saw a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER in
the vicinity, likely the same bird that I had seen there on May 30.
	
Sincerely,
Tim Janzen
Portland