[obol] Feb. Lincoln Co. Bird Notes Received Through 2/25
- From: Range Bayer <range.bayer@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: Oregon Birders OnLine <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing" <LCBNO@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 16 Mar 2013 19:39:24 -0700
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BIRD FIELD NOTES from the February 2013 Sandpiper 34(2)
for Observations Received Through 2/25 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 is room here for only some of the many Lincoln County sightings
posted to Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL), eBird.org, Lincoln Co.
Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO), and BirdNotes.net; or emailed,
telephoned, or mailed to me.
If you have any Lincoln County field notes, please share them with
Range (range.bayer@xxxxxxxxx; P.O. Box 1467, Newport, OR 97365;
541-265-2965) by the 20th of the month. Bird field notes columns in
the Sandpiper since 1992 are at
http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#recent
Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations (numbers
refer to site numbers in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide
http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/): BEAVER CREEK (#78, in part):
creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park that includes Beaver Creek
State Natural Area (http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_261.php),
BOILER BAY STATE WAYSIDE (#59): about 0.5 mi north of Depoe Bay,
DEVIL'S PUNCHBOWL STATE NATURAL AREA (#63): western side of town of
Otter Rock, HMSC (#75): OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, LNG TANK:
large green Liquefied Natural Gas tank on the north side of Yaquina
Bay about 1.5 miles east of Yaquina Bay Bridge, OLALLA SLOUGH: slough
on E side of Toledo meandering S into Yaquina Bay, ONA BEACH (#77):
State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at
Beaver Creek, SALLY'S BEND (#66): large Yaquina Bay embayment east of
the LNG tank, SALMON RIVER ESTUARY (#44 and 45): estuary at north end
of Lincoln Co.; the mouth is in Tillamook Co., YBSJ (#71): Yaquina Bay
South Jetty (the "Gull Puddle" area on the YBSJ is about 0.6 mile from
Yaquina Bay Bridge), YAQUINA HEAD OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREA (#65):
headland north of Newport.
2012 BEACHED BIRD REPORT by Bob Loeffel (with some editing)
The 35th year of surveys along 4.6 miles of beach between Beaver
Creek and Henderson Creek has been completed. Laimons & Vicki Osis
covered the northern portion, and Shirley and Bob Loeffel covered the
southern part. Filling in, Bob Olson did 2 surveys, and Dave and Jean
Dempster often accompanied the Loeffels and also did 2 surveys. The
surveys were conducted at intervals of 8 days or less, except for
three 9- and two 11-day periods.
Birds found including murre chicks totaled 524 in 2012. The average
annual count for the previous 34 years of the survey is 474.
A winter die-off led the count of Rhinoceros Auklets (167) with 105
being found in February. This die-off started in November 2011 and
continued through March 2012. It was accompanied by the finding of 36
Tufted and 12 Horned Puffins, very unusual numbers for these species,
which often are absent from counts. This makes one wonder why Pigeon
Guillemots, murrelets and other auklets with summer habits similar to
Tufted Puffins and Rhinoceros Auklets weren't afflicted.
Common Murre at 97 birds (including 5 chicks) was the second highest
species. In 2011, 171 murres (including 56 chicks) were counted.
Northern Fulmar was the third highest at 45, the Tufted Puffins,
mentioned above, being the next highest. The fulmar count (45) was
not only low (41 in 2011 but 165-358/year during 2007-2010), but
contrasted with the seemingly large numbers of southbound fulmars
passing the area in mid-October--Phil Pickering reported 10,000+
fulmars during a squally 4-hour count at Boiler Bay on Oct. 20.
Light-phase fulmars (4) made up a low 9% of the beached fulmars.
Sooty Shearwaters at 29 birds were at usual levels. Only 1
Short-tailed Shearwater was recovered.
Scoter species were scarce with only one bird, a White-winged Scoter.
2 adult and 1 hatch-year Pigeon Guillemots, 1 Marbled and 5 Ancient
Murrelets, and 8 Cassin's Auklets were found. 1 Parakeet Auklet, an
unusual find, was located. Only 3 phalaropes, all Reds, were
recovered. 4 Brown Pelicans were found, 2 in spring and 2 in fall.
No geese, but 4 ducks including 3 Northern Pintails and 1 Mallard
were encountered.
Shore or terrestrial birds included 2 Varied Thrushes, 1 Black
Turnstone, and 1 Rock Pigeon.
Thanks to the Wildlife Diversity Program of the Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife, whose support covers report distribution costs.
[Editors note. And a big thanks to Bob Loeffel and his team for
continuing these surveys and sharing their results! Their long-term
nature and data accessibility are exemplary.]
WATERFOWL
30-33 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were in the Otis/Salmon River area
on 2/8, 10, & 23 (DV; DH), and a singleton was at Boiler Bay on 2/21
(JS).
5-6 BRANT continued in the lawn or on the parking lot of the HMSC
through at least 2/12 (RLo; PL), with 2-3 of them being first-year
birds. Perhaps these are the same 1-2 family groups? The times of
day for these reports indicate that these Brant were present when the
tide height as measured at the HMSC was +3.2 ft or higher above MLLW
(RB). Brant are known to feed particularly on Zostera marina
eelgrass, which would be submerged and not available to upending,
non-diving Brant until tide level is approximately below +1.5 ft (RB),
though Brant could and do steal some eelgrass brought to the surface
by diving American Coots, or, as RLo points out, Brant could also feed
eelgrass blades that have broken free and are floating in the water at
high tide. But eelgrass is readily available to Brant only when
eelgrass beds are exposed. The few Brant that fed on the HMSC lawn
may have been taking advantage of an alternative food source while
eelgrass was unavailable. Still, it is unusual to have a concern for
Brant being hit by motor vehicles because they are walking across a
parking lot! The high count for Brant out in Yaquina Bay embayment
areas where they are normally was 339 on 2/22 (RB); it appears that
their spring migration is underway as this is about 50 Brant more than
were present earlier in winter (RB). More information about Yaquina
Bay Brant through 1996 is at
http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1957/8081/vol.
6 pg. 723-780.pdf
On 2/24, a flock of about 60 ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE flew north over
Yaquina Head (RLo), which might be a sign of their spring migration.
Our only other Cackling Geese were 6 apparently in a pasture at Otis
on 2/10 (DV).
At Olalla Slough, DG found the first WOOD DUCK of the year (a male)
on 2/3 and saw an odd scaup with feathers hanging behind its head on
2/24. She told RP, who confirmed it as a TUFTED DUCK and photographed
it--it is the first for Lincoln Co. It was also seen in the Olalla
Slough area through the end of these field notes on 2/25 (CP, JL, TSm;
DF) and beyond to at least 2/28.
HARLEQUIN DUCKS were regularly reported, and a LONG-TAILED DUCK was
at Yaquina Bay on 1/29 (DF), 2/2 (AC, TM & SB), 2/9 (WH), and 2/21
(ME; PW).
A male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was in the Newport Bayfront-YBSJ area on
2/2, 3, 17, & 22 (AC, TM & SB; WH; PS & CK; JG & JM). With the male
was a female on 2/22 (JG & JM), and a hybrid male COMMON X BARROW'S
GOLDENEYE was in the same area on 2/3 (WH).
[Image Not Included: Lincoln Co.'s first Tufted Duck--a drake, with
its rippling reflection, at Olalla Slough on 2/24. Photo by Ram
Papish.]
GREBE-EGRET
Beached bird numbers along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach in
January were low with the most numerous being 4 WESTERN GREBES (B&SLo,
L&VO).
We had 3 additional January BROWN PELICAN reports (BLM; ME) bringing
the January total to 21 reports with a high count of 4. Like usual,
they were scarcer in February with only 5 reports so far through 2/25.
ME had the latest, with 6 on 2/21 on Gull Rock about 0.5 mile to the
westnorthwest of Devils Punchbowl at the town of Otter Rock. PS & CK
had the high February count of 37 about an hour before sunset on Gull
Rock on 2/17; the high numbers probably reflects pelicans arriving to
spend the night because Gull Rock has been noted in the past as being
the site of a large night roost (e.g., using a spotting scope, RB
estimated 800-1,000 there in the early morning of Sept. 25, 2010).
The names of islands (including Gull Rock) near the town of Otter
Rock can be confused. Gull Rock is a close 0.5 mile away and to the
westnorthwest (see http://goo.gl/maps/eiOI9), but the island of Otter
Rock is further at about 1.0 mile to the south of the town of Otter
Rock and off Beverly Beach State Park (http://goo.gl/maps/Hpd6m).
According to the Coast Pilot, Gull Rock is about 56 ft high but the
island of Otter Rock is only about 11 ft high, so it could be swept by
high waves. To add to the confusion of the names for these islands,
Gull Rock has also been known as Otter Rock in the past (e.g., in
1974, p. 85 in http://www.oregongeology.org/pubs/OG/OBv36n05.pdf), and
RB recalls reading somewhere that at one time the names for these
islands were reversed. Further, it would be easy for people to assume
that the island closest to the town of Otter Rock is also the island
of Otter Rock, especially since the names of these rocks are not on
most maps. In any case, the 56 foot high Gull Rock is closer to the
town of Otter Rock than the 11 foot high island of Otter Rock.
Fewer pelicans have been viewed roosting on the lower island of Otter
Rock, but its distance makes it hard to view, especially if viewing
conditions (e.g., haze) intervenes. In the USFWS' "Catalog of Oregon
Seabird Colonies" (see section 243,
http://www.fws.gov/oregoncoast/seabird_colony_catalog.htm), Gull Rock
(Colony 243-010) is much more important for nesting than the lower
island of Otter Rock (243-010.2).
In 2008, 2010, and 2012 (even-year pattern!), we have had Brown
Pelican records every month of the year. Pelicans are the fewest and
often entirely not reported at all during February and March, so will
this year be the first odd-numbered year with records each month?
Scoping out Gull Rock or maybe even the island of Otter Rock off
Beverly Beach in the early morning or before sunset may reveal not
only some March records this year, but also surprisingly large numbers
of pelicans. Any observers?
On 2/11, SP counted 28 GREAT BLUE HERONS roosting in a tree at Lint
Slough (Alsea Bay). Herons often perch in trees between tides or
during the day, but such congregations now could also be related to
pairing and early nesting season activities. In the 1970s, the first
eggs were laid in mid-March, so nesting is not far away for them.
Last month, PD reported a Great Blue Heron perched on a thick
powerline near the junction of HWY 20 and Fruitvale Road east of
Newport on 1/22. After reading about this, CP noted one perched on
the lowest, heaviest, black insulated telephone line between power
poles in the same area on about 2/4; a heron may better perch on such
a line, not only because a thick wire would be easier to perch on and
would sway less but also because an insulated wire would prevent heat
loss through its feet that would occur if a heron perched on a
non-insulated wire. Herons are masters of energy conservation!
We had 15 reports of single and one report of 2 GREAT EGRETS in Feb.
at several sites.
RAPTORS
Oregon Winter Raptor Surveys are a good relative index to the
abundance of wintering raptors and are coordinated by the East
Cascades Birds Observatory (www.ecbcbirds.org/Default.aspx?tabid=73).
Lincoln Co. has 3 Raptor Routes. The North Lincoln Raptor Run is
around the Salmon River Estuary and was under 10 miles long when it
was done on 11/1 by DV and 11/15 by DV & LF; it was 17-19 miles long
with the addition of East Devil's Lake Road when done on 12/6 and 1/11
by DV and 2/8 by DV & RM in 170-185 minutes. The Inland or Yaquina
River-Siletz Raptor Route is about 65-70 miles long; it was done on
11/2, 12/5, 1/1, and 2/14 by JL & CP; the 1/1 & 2/14 routes took
292-304 minutes. The Coastal Route is about 60-62 miles and runs
along HWY 101 from the north side of Alsea Bay to the Taft area of
Lincoln City, with nearby inland valleys; it was done in 270-330
minutes on 12/8 by WN & RC and on 1/5 & 2/2 by WH, WN & RC. Because
of space constraints, the Table here only has results for Dec.-Feb.
Routes.
Doing these Routes is a practice of patience as well as discovery.
While the totals of about 30 raptors for the much longer Inland and
Coastal Routes are impressive, so these Routes may seem at first
glance to be action-packed, 30 raptors in about 300 minutes, is an
average of 1 new raptor per 10 minutes, which is also approximately
the rate for the Northern Route in Dec.
The sum for Feb. Routes indicates that the most numerous raptor was
Red-tailed Hawk with a total of 39. The next most abundant raptors in
Feb. were Bald Eagle (23), Peregrine Falcon (4), and American Kestrel
(3).
TURKEY VULTURES were first found over Toledo during the 2/14 Inland
Raptor Route (JL & CP).
During Dec.-Feb., 1-2 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS were recorded during 7 of
9 Raptor Routes, which shows how widespread they have become. We had
12 additional reports of scattered singletons in Feb. through 2/25,
including during the 2/23 YBNFT (DG).
Single Red-shoulders have been regularly seen at the HMSC and other
sites, but that does not mean that only 1is there. On 2/7, an
observant PL was walking the HMSC Nature Trail and spotted 1 adult on
the north end of the trail on the seawater tank, and another adult
further south atop a swallow box. PL added "I could see both at once,
so no question that there were two."
A MERLIN graced the Salmon River on 2/1 (DV).
Besides on the Raptor Routes, 1-2 PEREGRINE FALCONS were seen on 7
other days, and kestrels were found at Yaquina Head during 4 days in
Jan., Gleneden Beach on 2/16 (LL), and the Salmon River on 2/17 (ME).
-----------------------------------------
Dec-Jan. North |Inland |Coastal
12/ 1/ 2/|12/ 1/ 2/|12/ 1/ 2/
Raptor 6 11 8| 5 8 14| 8 5 2
-------------------------------------------
Turkey Vulture 0 0 0| 0 0 2| 0 0 0
Wh-tail. Kite 1 0 0| 1 2 2| 0 0 0
Bald Eagle
" adults 2 3 0| 2 4 7| 14 14 14
" subadults 0 1 0| 0 0 0| 0 2 0
" unknown age 0 0 0| 0 0 0| 0 1 2
North. Harrier 2 3 1| 1 0 1| 2 0 0
Sharp-sh. Hawk 2 1 0| 0 2 0| 2 0 0
Cooper's Hawk 0 0 0| 0 0 0| 1 1 0
Red-shld. Hawk 2 1 0| 0 2 1| 1 1 1
Red-tail. Hawk 9 9 13| 26 18 14| 5 14 12
Am. Kestrel 0 0 1| 2 1 2| 1 0 0
Merlin 0 1 0| 1 1 0| 0 1 0
Peregrine Fal. 2 0 0| 0 2 2| 1 2 2
RAPTOR SUM 20 19 15| 33 32 31| 27 36 31
The new American Ornithologist's Union phylogenetic order used by
eBird places falcons after woodpeckers. However, continuing to
include falcons with hawks and eagles here seems more helpful in
discussing Raptor Route results.
[Image Not Included: Adult Red-shouldered Hawk balancing on top of a
pine tree at the HMSC on 2/17. Yes, they do have a red-shoulder!
Photo by Roy Lowe.]
SHOREBIRDS-FLICKER
Seasonal concentrations of 10 or more BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS included
11-23 at Depoe Bay seawall area on 1/30 (TSh; ME) and 10-11 at Seal
Rocks on 2/18 & 23 (RLe; LO).
1-2 ROCK SANDPIPERS were at Depoe Bay on 1/30 (ME; TSh) and at Seal
Rocks on 2/2, 17, & 18 (AC, TM & SB; PS & CK; RLe).
COMMON MURRES started making their seasonal approach toward their
Yaquina Head nesting colonies, with 10-15,000 approaching within a
mile on 2/3 (GK; WH).
A dead adult HORNED PUFFIN in winter plumage was photographed near
Wakonda Beach south of Waldport during a 2/16 CoastWatch survey
(http://oregonshores.org/report.php5?rid=5551).
Single BAND-TAILED PIGEONS appeared at Waldport on about 2/10 (RLo)
and at Lost Creek south of Newport on 2/20 (KS). Stragglers sometimes
start occurring in about mid-February, but they don't become common
for about another month.
Continuing the trend of increased reports and numbers of MOURNING
DOVES, we had 5 reports in Feb., with a maximum of 37 at L&JM's home
where they are fed east of Sally's Bend.
A BARRED OWL was calling at 3 PM in afternoon at Thornton Creek
between Toledo and Eddyville on 2/16 (D&LF), and 2 were duetting at
Hudson Loop between Toledo and Siletz on 2/24 (JL).
A female ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD was collecting seed fluff, presumably for
nesting, at L&JM's home east of Sally's Bend on 2/2.
A RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD continued to overwinter at L&JM's home east of
Sally's Bend, and the first migrant (a male) was reported at Waldport
on 2/16 (RLo).
Our latest RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER was at Hudson Loop between Toledo
and Siletz on 1/21 (JL), and a NORTHERN FLICKER with yellow-shafts was
at Depoe Bay on 2/15 (JRe).
[Image Not Included: A flock of 33 Mourning Doves feeding at John &
Linda MacKown's home east of Sally's Bend on 2/22; more were nearby.
Photo by John MacKown.]
PHOEBE-MEADOWLARK
Single BLACK PHOEBES continued from Jan. at Ona Beach on 1/30 (JRi)
and Hidden Valley between Toledo and Newport on 2/14 (JL & CP).
After an absence of over a month, a WESTERN SCRUB-JAY reappeared in
the SW 9th and Angle neighborhood of Newport on 2/25, and it had a
bill abnormality, perhaps a broken bill (DA). Other single scrub-jays
were reported in Toledo on 2/11 (RJ & others) and at Devils Lake on
2/20 (JS).
The only WESTERN BLUEBIRD reports were at Yaquina Head during 1/24 to
at least the end of Jan. (BLM); they may have continued there into
Feb.
AMERICAN ROBIN numbers can wax and wane this time of year, though it
is not clear if this because of migration or local aggregating. On
2/18, PR had a marked increase to 22 in his Newport yard.
1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was near Olalla Slough in Jan., in the
Toledo area on 2/16 & during the 2/23 YBNFT (DG), and in Toledo on
2/25 (BD & TJ).
WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS continued their apparent scarcity this winter
with our only report since Jan. 1 on 2/25 at Toledo (BD & TJ).
WESTERN MEADOWLARKS wintered at Yaquina Head on 1/29, and 5 were at
the YBSJ on 2/4 (DH).
[Image Not Included: Our only Northern Shrike so far this winter was
at 3 Rocks Road near the Salmon River on 2/19. Photo by Jack Doyle.]
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: David Adamson, Range Bayer, Birding Oregon
(http://birdingoregon.info/), Bureau of Land Management staff and
volunteers at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area (BLM), Sean Burns,
Rebecca Cheek, Alan Contreras, Pat Dickey, Barbara Dolan, eBird.org
(location and observer not accessible in "View and Explore Data" for
"All Observations" but available through "Bar Charts"), Mark Elliott,
Darrel & Laura Faxon, Linda Fink, Jeff Gilligan, Dawn Grafe, Wayne
Hoffman, Deb Holland, Rodger Johnson, Tim Johnson, Carol Karlen,
Gretchen Kazebier (BLM), Janet Lamberson, Pete Lawson, Rick Leinen
(RLe), Leslie Lewis, Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO)
(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LCBNO/), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley
Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe (RLo), Linda & John MacKown, Rick Mark, Thomas
Meinzen, Judy Meredith, Walt Nelson, Field Notes (FN; Lincoln County
records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are searchable at
http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#recent), Oregon Birders On-Line
(OBOL; recent postings at http://birdnews.aba.org/maillist/OR01),
Laimons & Vicki Osis, Ram Papish, Sylvia Pauly, Chuck Philo, Paul
Reed, Jim Regali (JRe), John Riverso (JRi), SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln
Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive@OSU
[http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Tim Shelmerdine (TSh), Julia
Siporin, Terry Smith (TSm), Keith Stratton, Paul Sullivan, Dawn
Villaescusa, Paula Von Weller (PW), Yaquina Birders & Naturalists
(http://yaquina.info/ybn/) Field Trip (YBNFT) led by DG.
--
Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon
Lincoln Co. Bird Information at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm
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