[obol] [Fwd: E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area (main tract), Benton County, Oregon on November 11-12, 2013]

From: Joel Geier <joel.geier@xxxxxxxx>
To: Oregon Birders OnLine <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 17:14:32 -0800
Hi all,

I thought it might be interesting to put together a composite list from
my walks on the past couple of days, to give a more complete impression
of what birds are around the wildlife area right now. 

One thing I realized while putting this together is that I didn't see a
single DUCK. The only waterfowl of any type were flyover geese & swan
flocks (and not many geese, at that). Most of the seasonal ponds are
still without water, but even the year-round ponds were empty of
waterfowl -- and of herons too.

Numbers of AMERICAN ROBINS and CEDAR WAXWINGS have decreased noticeably
over the past week, but there are still good numbers around.

The MERLIN was the first that I've seen on the wildlife area all year. I
still haven't seen a GREEN HERON or CINNAMON TEAL there all year --
species that have usually been reliable -- and the odds won't get any
better with winter approaching.

For anyone planning to visit the wildlife area by motor vehicle,
remember to get your annual or daily parking permit from ODFW or
anywhere retail outlet where hunting/fishing permits are sold.

Happy birding,
Joel

Subject: Census Count: E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area (main tract), Benton
County, Oregon on November 12, 2013
Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 23:11:38 GMT

This report was mailed for Joel Geier by http://birdnotes.net

Date: November 12, 2013
Location: E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area (main tract), Benton County, Oregon

Composite from walks around the wildlife area on mornings of Nov 11
(4 hours, mainly in north end of wildlife area) and Nov 12 (2 hours,
in south end). In total covered about 2/3 of the wildlife area.
Conditions were fog for most of first morning, which lifted for the
last hour and turned into sunshine, then overcast (slight mist) on
second morning. The numbers are estimates but should be accurate 
within +/- 10% for any given species (more precise in the case of 
White-throated Sparrow since I was actually keeping track of those).

Birds seen (in taxonomic order):

Canada Goose [1] 
Cackling Goose [2] 
Tundra Swan                         5
Ring-necked Pheasant                2 [3] 
Northern Harrier                    1
Sharp-shinned Hawk                  1
Cooper's Hawk                       1
Red-shouldered Hawk                 1 [4] 
Red-tailed Hawk                     8
American Kestrel                    2
Merlin                              1 [5] 
Killdeer                            1 [6] 
Unidentified gull                   3
Mourning Dove                      20
Barn Owl                            1
Anna's Hummingbird                  2
Belted Kingfisher                   1
Acorn Woodpecker                    1 [7] 
Red-breasted Sapsucker              1 [8] 
Downy Woodpecker                    5
Northern Flicker                   30
Black Phoebe                        2 [9] 
Hutton's Vireo                      1
Steller's Jay                       8
Western Scrub-Jay                  15
American Crow                      10
Common Raven                        2
Black-capped Chickadee             60
Chestnut-backed Chickadee           1 [10] 
Bushtit                            25
Red-breasted Nuthatch               1
White-breasted Nuthatch             2 [11] 
Bewick's Wren                      20
Winter Wren                         8 [12] 
Marsh Wren                          6
Golden-crowned Kinglet             12
Ruby-crowned Kinglet               35
Hermit Thrush                       1
American Robin                    200
Varied Thrush                       6
Wrentit                             8
European Starling                  50
Cedar Waxwing                      30
Yellow-rumped Warbler              80 [13] 
Spotted Towhee                     60
Savannah Sparrow                   10
Fox Sparrow                        80 [14] 
Song Sparrow                      120
Lincoln's Sparrow                  20
Swamp Sparrow                       1 [15] 
White-throated Sparrow             15 [16] 
White-crowned Sparrow               5
Golden-crowned Sparrow            100
Dark-eyed Junco                   200
Red-winged Blackbird               40 [17] 
Brewer's Blackbird                  2 [18] 
Purple Finch                       20 [19] 
House Finch                        12
Lesser Goldfinch                    2
American Goldfinch                  4
House Sparrow                       3 [20] 

Footnotes:

[1]  CANG: A few flyovers
[2]  CACG: A few flyovers
[3]  RNPH: Roosters heard, apparently survivors of the pen-raised
     birds released for hunting.
[4]  RSHA: Adult, very vocal in south end (possibly two)
[5]  MERL: Female
[6]  KILL: Heard through fog.
[7]  ACWO: One or two heard in oak grove in "closed to public" area
     north of Canal Pond.
[8]  RBSA: Heard. No sign of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in area where
     found in previous winters.
[9]  BLPH: One at old movie theatre foundation in south end, one
     around old scout encampment in north end.
[10] CBCH: With kinglet-chickadee flock in south end.
[11] WBNU: Heard in oak grove in south end.
[12] PAWR: Scattered individuals.
[13] YRWA: About 75% Myrtle, 25% Audubon's
[14] FOSP: All seen were Sooty form.
[15] SWSP: South end in grassy field with sparse low blackberries,
     1/4 mile east of Frontage Rd. entrance and then a bit south.
[16] WTSP: Fairly dispersed, no flocks larger than 4 individuals,
     usually 2-3 at a time, widespread.
[17] RWBL: Flock north end of wildlife area.
[18] BRBL: Hanging with the Red-wingeds.
[19] PUFI: Typical winter numbers.
[20] HOSP: Heard around the headquarters/shop areas.

Total number of species seen: 61
[obol] [Fwd: E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area (main tract), Benton County, Oregon on November 11-12, 2013]

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