Nice list John! Are Vesper and Brewer's Sparrow a species that is usually
seen this time of year there? They are both species worth tracking with
the climate issues we have. I live on the westside so I always think of
them as summer birds. Am envious of your list for sure!
Tim Rodenkirk
Coos bay
On Wed, Feb 3, 2016 at 4:21 PM, john shewey <jshewey@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Although this report is hardly timely, I hope it's at least interesting.
During my half-dozen January forays to Gilliam County, primarily in the
general area of Condon, I was very surprised to find the following: COMMON
REDPOLL--a group of 4 that flew right in to have a good look at me while I
was climbing out of a slot canyon feeding Wherli Canyon. VESPER SPARROW--1
individual in a large patch of low sagebrush on a ridge high above 30-Mile
Creek. BREWER'S SPARROW--2 individuals in close association in a sagebrush
patch on a flat about 5 miles from Condon. As for these last two sightings,
I'd be interested in hearing about other winter sightings in the region as
I'm unfamiliar with whether this is rare or just unusual. To be sure, it
was a mild winter in that part of Oregon and certainly Gilliam County is
"under-studied" owing to the propensity of private land (I've been chukar
hunting around Condon for 20 years and have never before seen "summer"
sparrows there in winter). I
n the not-unusual-but always-fun-to-see category, the Holiday snowfall
brought hundreds of HORNED LARKS to the highway west of Condon and to the
high blow-offs in the CRP and stubble fields, but despite my best efforts,
not a Longspur to be found. Also found near Condon last month: MOUNTAIN
BLUEBIRD (2), NORTHERN SHRIKE (2), PEREGRINE FALCON (1), WESTERN
SCREECH-OWL (1 by call). --John Shewey www.birdingoregon.com
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