[obol] Feb. Lincoln Co. Bird Notes Received Through 2/29
Range Bayer
rbayer at orednet.org
Wed Mar 12 14:42:05 PDT 2008
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BIRD FIELD NOTES from the February 2008 Sandpiper 29(2)
for Observations Received Through Feb. 29 by Range Bayer
The Sandpiper is a publication of Yaquina Birders and Naturalists, a
Lincoln County (Oregon) natural history group.
Comments in this column about abundance or seasonality refer to
LINCOLN COUNTY only.
There are too many sightings to report them all. The number of field
notes and photos varies as I received 36 pages of notes and 1 bird photo
last month. This month I received 49 pages of notes. Only sightings that
seemed particularly noteworthy are included here. This month I also
received 21 photos. Unfortunately, there is not room for them all. It is
wonderful to receive sightings and photos, and they are useful for Lincoln
County records! Thanks to all the contributors for sharing and for your
patience if your sightings or photos were not included!
If you have any Lincoln County field notes, please share them with
Range (rbayer at orednet.org; P.O. Box 1467, Newport, OR 97365; 541-265-2965)
by the 20th of the month.
Bird field notes in the Sandpiper since 1992 are at
http://www.orednet.org/~rbayer/lincoln/bird.htm#recent (all lower case
letters).
Many Lincoln Co. sites are in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide
(http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/).
Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations: BEAVER
CREEK: creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park, ECKMAN LAKE: lake 2 mi
east of Waldport along HWY 34, HMSC: OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center,
IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of HMSC, LNG TANK: large green
Liquefied Natural Gas tank on the north side of Yaquina Bay about 1.5 miles
east of Yaquina Bay Bridge, ONA BEACH: State Park about 6.6 mi south of
Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, SALLY'S BEND: large
Yaquina Bay embayment east of the LNG tank, SEAL ROCK STABLES PASTURE:
pasture at about Milepost 1.6 along South Beaver Creek Road, YBSJ: Yaquina
Bay South Jetty.
BRANT
On Jan. 19, JS saw two BRANT with leg bands at Idaho Flats, near the
HMSC Nature Trail shelter. JS notes that there may have been more banded
Brant. He adds "These are relatively easy to read leg bands (compared to
other bands I've seen): large bands with white characters on a dark
background." Their numbers were 6V9 and 6ZV.
RL of the USFWS referred JS' report to David Ward (dward at usgs.gov),
who works with Brant. David replied that Brant with these codes had black
bands with white characters, yellow with white characters, or white with
black characters. JS' description fits black bands with white characters.
David writes, "Black-6V9 was banded as an adult female in July 2006 on
Kikigak Island on the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska. Black-6VZ was banded
as an adult male in the same year and location. It is likely that these
birds are paired, but we could not determine this at the time of banding."
Evidently, these 2 Brant are still hanging out near each other. Try
looking to see if you find them or other banded Brant! If you see any
banded ones, please report them! We are curious to know where birds here
are from!
Brant abundance at Yaquina Bay embayments has been at a plateau of
165-182 Brant on 1/18, 2/4 & 15 (RB). No reports yet of any Brant west of
the Yaquina Bay Bridge, where they often appear during spring migration.
YB&N is a project partner of the International Brant Monitoring Project
(IBMP) (http://www.padillabay.gov/brant/), and RB relays on sightings of
significant numbers of Brant in Lincoln County to their Observation Log
(see link on left side of their web page).
SWANS
TUNDRA SWANS generally do not linger and are generally uncommon here-
-but not this winter. Starting with VA's Nov. 25 observation of 1 near
Seal Rock Stables, as many as 4 have been spotted, mostly in the Beaver
Creek area. In Feb., singletons were reported just north of Ona Beach
State Park on 2/4 (G&JS) and near the Stables on 2/6-7 (BH; DD & DSt).
On 2/9, LO and WH each identified a TRUMPETER SWAN near Seal Rocks
Stables. They identified it based on head characteristics (see photo). It
can be hard to find when it is behind vegetation, and it is on private
property, so please don't block their driveway. It has often been on the
north side. This appears to be the most seen Trumpeter in Lincoln Co., as
they usually are one-day wonders. It was also reported on 2/14-15 (LO;
SF), 2/17 (MN), the 2/21 Portland Audubon field trip (DD), 2/25 (LO), and
2/29 (DSm & ME).
A swan appearing larger than others may not be a Trumpeter Swan.
Male Tundras are larger than females and some Tundras found in Oregon can
be much larger than typical for Tundras (1988 Oregon Birds 14:40-41). For
example, the molting weight of one male Tundra was 22 pounds, though the
male average is about 16 pounds (1988 Oregon Birds 14:41,
http://www.trumpeterswansociety.org/id.htm).
[Image Not Included: Shawneen Finnegan's Feb. 15 photo of the head of a
Trumpeter Swan emerging from the wet pasture/marsh on the north side of
Seal Rock Stables. The Trumpeter Swan Society
(http://www.trumpeterswansociety.org/id.htm) gives more info about
separating Trumpeter and Tundra Swans than most field guides. The straight
profile from the top of its head to its bill tip and its eye not appearing
distinct from the bill help identify it as a Trumpeter. The Society
indicates a Tundra has a top of head to bill tip profile that is down
curved and an eye "usually distinct" from the bill.]
WOOD DUCK-KITE
The most WOOD DUCKS reported this winter were 3 pairs at north Beaver
Creek on 2/4 (LO). 1-3 EURASIAN WIGEON were at Beaver Creek during 2/2-15
(LO; DI; SF) and at Sally's Bend on 2/15 (RB) and 2/26 (CA). Our only
REDHEADS were 1-2 at Beaver Creek on 2/9-13 (DI; LO) and Eckman Lake on
2/15 (RL).
As many as 5 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were at Seal Rocks on 1/19 (JS & MA),
2/2 (LO), and 2/9 (DD), with as many as 8 reported at the YBSJ during 2/7-
20 (BLl; RB; BBe and others).
SF found a female LONG-TAILED DUCK at the YBSJ (2/8) and Yaquina Head
(2/10).
VO had our only RUFFED GROUSE at north Beaver Creek on 2/3.
16 WESTERN GREBES were the most numerous dead birds in Jan. along 4.6
miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). BLo started these surveys
in January 1978, and the previous high for Western Grebes was 10 in 1981.
JL found a CLARK'S GREBE with Western Grebes at Yaquina Bay in mid-
Feb.
KB saw 2 immature BROWN PELICANS flying in the Seal Rocks area on
2/21. Pelicans have been reported every month of the year, with the fewest
sightings during Feb.-March (SemiL).
On 1/19, KB was tidepooling amongst the basalt outcroppings of the
intertidal at Seal Rocks and saw a juvenile GREAT BLUE HERON foraging only
about 12 ft away. Evidently, it was intent on its foraging and/or it has
habituated to people at the Park. Herons are far warier where shooting
occurs.
1-3 GREAT EGRETS were only reported at north and/or south Beaver
Creek on 2/2, 4 & 25 (LO).
A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was heard calling in the darkness at the
HMSC on 1/13 (RB). 2 graced the 2/23 YBNFT.
JP spotted the first TURKEY VULTURE at Toledo on 2/19 (fide BLo), and
BH also saw one near Waldport on 2/21.
A single WHITE-TAILED KITE frequented the HMSC/Oregon Coast Aquarium
area on 2/6-9 (DG; SF; RC & WN) and for the 2/23 YBNFT. During the 2/9
Raptor Route (see Table below), RC &WN also discovered one at Strome County
Park (about 10 miles north of Siletz
[http://www.co.lincoln.or.us/lcparks/strome.html]), Olalla Slough as seen
from Toledo park at SE 10th, and near the LNG tank at Yaquina Bay.
EAGLE-RED-SHOULDERED HAWK
BALD EAGLES were of almost daily occurrence at Yaquina Head in Jan.
(BLM) and were often noted in February.
The large number of COOPER'S HAWK reports this winter continued in
February in the South Beach area (DG; BLl; DSm & ME; BBe and others) and
near Yachats (BB; KB).
A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK visited HS' neighborhood near the Newport
Bayfront on 6 of the first 8 afternoons in Feb.
On 2/2, PW saw an immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK take an American Crow in
east Seal Rocks. But it was unable to fly off with the crow and abandoned
it after disturbance from a passing car. Goshawks are rarely reported, and
PW was careful to note that in addition to its larger size that it had a
white supercilium and uneven tail bands that distinguished it from a
Cooper's. PW notes that it had been in the area for a couple of weeks.
A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was in north Beaver Creek on 1/19 (JS & MA) and
near JCo's home 2 miles north of Siletz on 2/3 & 18.
[Image Not Included: Woody Ouderkirk's Feb. 9 photo of a pair of Bald
Eagles perched in top of a large Sitka spruce near the Yaquina Bay South
Jetty Road. Woody notes that Great Blue Herons and other birds also often
perch on top of this tree.]
MERLIN-RAPTOR ROUTE
RL found our only MERLIN on 2/6 at the HMSC. 1-2 PEREGRINE FALCONS
were often reported at several sites near the coast in late January and
February (BLM; PW; V&ET; CP; LO).
[Image Not Included: Howard Shippey's Feb. 9 sunrise photo of a Peregrine
Falcon carrying off a Rock Pigeon. The two birds had been flying over the
Newport Bayfront, when the falcon caught the pigeon and, in flight, bent
down to kill it by biting its neck.]
The February Lincoln Co. raptor route was conducted on 2/9 by WN and
RC. The route runs from Alsea Bay north to Lincoln City, inland following
HWY 229 to Siletz and Toledo, and along the Yaquina River back to Newport.
The total number (39) of raptors was up from last month and within
the range of 9 counts during Dec.-Feb. in the 3 past winters. The biggest
change from last month is that the number of Bald Eagles almost doubled.
The number of kites also set a record high.
Oregon Winter Raptor Surveys are coordinated by the East Cascades
Birds Observatory (ECBC) (http://www.ecbcbirds.org/Default.aspx?tabid=73).
-----------------------------------------
Dec-Feb.________________
Lincoln Co. 2004- 2007 2008_____
Raptor Route 2007* 12/8 1/20 2/9
-----------------------------------------
Turkey Vulture 0-1 0 0 0
No. Harrier 0-5 3 1 2
White-t. Kite 0-3 1 2 4
Sharp-shin. Hawk 0-2 0 0 0
Cooper's Hawk 0-4 2 0 1
Accipiter sp. 0-1 0 0 0
Red-should. Hawk 0-2 0 0 0
Red-tail. Hawk 10-22 24 14 14
Bald Eagle ad. 2-22 14 7 13
" " subadults 1-5 2 1 2
" " unknown 0-2 0 0 0
" " total 4-27 16 8 15
Merlin 0-1 0 0 0
Am. Kestrel 0-5 0 0 1
Peregrine Falcon 0-3 4 2 2
RAPTOR SUM 29-62 50 27 39
Counts 9 1 1 1
Miles 117-121 119 118 119
Hours 6.5-8 8 7.5 7.5
* Ranges for Dec.-Feb. periods in 2004-2005, 2005-2006, and 2006-2007.
See Feb. 2007 Sandpiper for ranges each winter; individual counts are in
earlier Sandpipers.
Snowy Owl 0-1 0 0 0
Burrowing Owl 0-1 0 0 0
------------------------------------------------------
PLOVER-FLICKER
DD & DSt had our only BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, with 6 in a field in the
Bayview Pasture area at the junction of South Beaver Creek Road and North
Alsea Bay Road. In the past, some shorebirds used the field and swale to
the east of that junction as a high-tide roost.
4 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS were at Yachats on 2/14 (SaL). The Portland
Audubon field trip found 16 at Depoe Bay in one group (DD), and this was
reported to oystercatcher researcher Elise Elliott-Smith (eelliott-
smith at usgs.gov), who is interested in concentrations of 10 or more anywhere
along the Oregon Coast.
A WHIMBREL was at the Yachats Community Wetlands Park on 1/31 (fide
BBa) and the YBSJ on 2/29 (CA). SF discovered 2 ROCK SANDPIPERS under the
Bridge at Depoe Bay on 2/11. The 2/23 YBNFT found about a dozen DUNLIN
with 75 SANDERLINGS at Sally's Bend.
BONAPARTE'S GULLS are uncommon in Feb. (SemiL), but LO found one at
the Newport Bayfront on 2/5.
A first-year GLAUCOUS GULL was detected at Mooloch Beach north of
Yaquina Head on 2/10 (SF) and the YBSJ on 2/15 (SF). Another of
unspecified age-class was in Lincoln City in mid-Feb. (BFl).
3 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES and 1 ANCIENT MURRELET were beached in Jan.
along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). This is the
highest January total for kittiwakes since these surveys began in 1978.
1-2 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS arrived on 2/12 at J&KC's feeders about 4
miles east of Waldport, on 2/17 at DG's Toledo feeder, and on 2/23 at RC
and WN's feeder near Ona Beach. This is a good showing this early.
Stragglers often appear in February, but most usually come in April and
May.
A BARRED OWL was heard east of Idaho Point at Yaquina Bay on 2/14 (TS
& CL) and at north Beaver Creek on 2/17 (LO).
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS were collecting fuzz from cattail flowers at
L&JM's home east of Sally's Bend on 2/20. The first male RUFOUS
HUMMINGBIRD arrived on 2/18 at J&KC's home about 4 miles east of Waldport
and 3 days later at both RF & CG's Newport home and RC & WN's home just
north of Ona Beach. The first female Rufous was reported on 2/23 by RC at
their home, and RC notes that Anna's "largely move out around the time the
Rufous begin to arrive, except for a couple of unobtrusive Anna's females
that nest somewhere nearby."
A male yellow-shafted NORTHERN FLICKER that showed no indication of
being a hybrid with a red-shafted flicker was regularly at CP's Toledo home
during 2/3-9.
PILEATED-DIPPER
On 1/20, KB hiked the Gwynn Creek loop trail at Cape Perpetua and
enjoyed "Draughts of fresh air and dappled sunlight up on Cook's Ridge.
Then I heard a rustle of wings and a gorgeous PILEATED WOODPECKER landed on
a tree trunk nearby!" A pair of Pileated Woodpeckers has been at SK's home
just north of Criteser's Moorage downstream of Toledo in early Feb.
As noted in last month's Sandpiper, TREE SWALLOWS and BARN SWALLOWS
showed up unusually early in January, mostly near Seal Rock Stables. On
1/27, LO noted that it was 35 F and he had snow on the ground at his north
Beaver Creek home, but yet there were swallows near the Stables! They were
still there on 2/2 (LO). On 2/14, LO found a Barn Swallow near the Stables
and writes "It's curious to me to see a number of swallows during the cold
snap but now, during our February false spring, most of them have
disappeared." On 2/15, SF saw a Tree Swallow near the Stables, but LO
found no swallows there on 2/25.
[Image Not Included: January 31 photo provided by Jesica Haxel, science
teacher at Siletz Valley School. It is of an American Crow with white
feathers walking on a street in Siletz. The presence of such white
feathers is often termed leucism. Crows with white feathers are
occasionally reported here, with the white sometimes so extensive that a
crow can appear like a magpie! The Cornell Ornithology Lab
(http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/OtherStrangeBirds.htm)
indicates that a leucistic bird" has feathers that appear lighter than
normal, as if the bird had been dipped in semi-opaque white paint," while
albino birds have "absolutely no pigment in their feathers, bills, or legs,
and their eyes appear red." But Cornell notes elsewhere that the
distinction is less clear
(http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ivory/pastsearches/2005_2006/stories_reports_0506/leucism).]
AMERICAN DIPPERS are not often reported, especially in winter.
However, they were singing in north Beaver Creek on 2/3 (EH), and along the
Siletz River near BLl's Logsden home on 2/6-7.
BLUEBIRD-GOLDFINCH
WESTERN BLUEBIRDS are generally only reported here in winter after
freezing temperatures and snow. This winter is no exception, and reports
continued from late January, as noted in last month's Sandpiper, into
February. 13 were counted at South Beach Fire Station near the Airport on
2/6 (CP), and 2-3 were at Yaquina Head on 2/9 & 13 (V&ET; RL).
A few AMERICAN ROBINS linger in winter, but CP was surprised by the
sudden arrival of 43 at this Toledo yard on 2/21. This may represent
movements within Lincoln County rather than immigration into the County,
since LO observed large flocks of robins at Beaver Creek on 2/2.
JR first noted a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD in south Lincoln City on 1/3,
and S&BF saw and photographed it on 2/11. It was also observed on 2/17
(ME).
The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW first found along the HMSC Nature Trail
during the Yaquina Bay Christmas Bird Count was also found on 1/19 (JS &
MA) and 2/18 (WH).
A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was at DG's Toledo feeder on 2/20 and a
feeder near Criteser's Moorage downstream of Toledo in mid-Feb. (JL). A
slate-colored DARK-EYED JUNCO lingered in Newport on 2/9 (SF).
PINE SISKINS have been common at KS's feeder in South Beach and
elsewhere. But hundreds or more have not yet been reported like in a few
winters.
4 LESSER GOLDFINCHES continued to dwell near L&JM's feeder near the
east side of Sally's Bend through at least 2/20.
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Vikki Anderson, Mark Aron, Cindy Ashy, Betty Bahn
(BBa), Range Bayer, Bob Bender (BBe), Kitty Brigham, Bureau of Land
Management staff at Yaquina Head (BLM), Rebecca Cheek, Jorrie & Ken Ciotti
(http://www.birdsamore.com), Joel Colvin (JCo), Dick Demarest, Mark
Elliott, Roy Filby, Shawneen & Betty Finnegan, Bob Flores (BFl), Dawn
Grafe, Cathy Grimm, Wayne Hoffman, Eric Horvath, Bettye Hunt, Dave Irons,
Steve Kupillas, Janet Lamberson, Chris Langdon, Bob Llewellyn (BLl), Sally
Lockyear (SaL), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Linda
& John MacKown, Walt Nelson, Mark Nikas, OBOL (Oregon Birders On Line;
recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Chuck
Philo, Laimons & Vicki Osis, John Paith, Paul Reed, Jeanette Reischman,
Trent Seager, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for
each species at http://www.orednet.org/~rbayer/lincoln/bird.htm#semimonthly
[all lower case letters]), Howard Shippey, Jamie Simmons, David Smith
(DSm), George & Jackie Stankey, Don Stein (DSt), Keith Stratton, Vjera &
Eddie Thompson, Pat Wood, Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (YBNFT
Field Trip led by PR).
More information about the obol
mailing list