[obol] Re: Finding a Varied Thrush in the Portland area: not as easy as I thought!
- From: Hendrik Herlyn <hhactitis@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: janet.leavens1@xxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 20:56:47 -0700
Hi Janet,
Too bad you are in Portland and not here in Corvallis. Right now, Varied
Thrushes are THICK in the Coast Range south and west of town. The best time
is early in the morning - we literally have to dodge dozens of them on the
forest roads around Alsea Falls. But even a drive up Marys Peak on a paved
road will usually result in dozens, if not 100s of VATHs, if you can beat
the traffic there (just before sunrise is best!).
In addition, Marys Peak is a great place to find Sooty Grouse and Mountain
Quail, and on a clear day you can enjoy a gorgeous view!
Good luck in your quest
Hendrik
On Wed, Oct 22, 2014 at 4:59 PM, Rachel Kapelle <rkapelle@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I saw a few yesterday afternoon in West Salem at the Wallace Marine Park
> softball complex. They were just north of the northernmost parking lot
> there--along the trail between the parking lot and the little pond in the
> woods. Since this was the first time I had seen them there, however, I
> can't say whether this is a usual spot for them.
>
> -Rachel
>
> On Wed, Oct 22, 2014 at 3:09 PM, Janet Leavens <janet.leavens1@xxxxxxxxx>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> My husband and I are here visiting the Portland area for the week (from
>> Central Florida). We've already visited the coast and have had lots of
>> luck, finding 9 lifers including Northern Shrike; White-tailed Kite and
>> Heerman's Gull.
>>
>> However, we've had no luck whatsoever with Varied Thrush. According to
>> eBird, they seem to be all around us and have been reported from almost
>> every location we've birded. Yet, although we've seen other skulkers and
>> hard to see birds (Hermit Thrush, Pacific and Bewick's Wren, Brown Creeper)
>> we've yet to (knowingly) see or hear a Varied Thrush. So, can anyone give
>> us any tips? Are Varied Thrushes still singing (I suppose not)? Are they
>> calling? Are they only really active at one particular time of day? Do the
>> favor some specific habitat that we're missing? I have been assuming they'd
>> be found in well wooded areas like Hermit Thrushes, but maybe I'm wrong.
>> Does luck really have something to do with it -- as is some days you can
>> find 5 and others zero? Is there any particular spot that is really
>> reliable for the species?
>>
>> Thanks in advance for any info!
>>
>> Janet Leavens
>> Oviedo, FL
>>
>
>
--
__________________________
Hendrik G. Herlyn
Corvallis, OR
*"Nature is not a place to visit. It is home." -- Gary Snyder*
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