[obol] March Lincoln Co. Bird Notes Received During 2/26-3/23

From: Range Bayer <range.bayer@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Oregon Birders OnLine <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing" <LCBNO@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2014 21:40:19 -0700
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BIRD FIELD NOTES from the March 2014 Sandpiper 35(3)
for Observations Received During 2/26-3/23 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 (SNA)
(http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_261.php), BOILER BAY STATE
WAYSIDE (#59): about 0.5 mi north of Depoe Bay, ECKMAN LAKE (#84):
lake 2 mi east of Waldport along HWY 34, HMSC (#75): OSU Hatfield
Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of the
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 (renamed as Brian Booth State Park in 2013) (#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, YAQUINA HEAD OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREA (#65): headland
north of Newport (requires recreation pass or vehicle entrance fee).


WATERFOWL

Since late Nov., 10-16 GR. WHITE-FRONTED GEESE have found a protected
place from people and dogs on the lawn inside the chain link fence
around the large green LNG tank in Newport, west of Sally's Bend,
where they can graze and rest.  15-17 were still there on 3/14 & 23
(RB; PT & SM).

The high counts of BRANT during the 2/26-3/23 reporting period were
200 near the HMSC on 3/1 (JH) and 197 at Idaho Flats on 3/14 (RB).  It
is unusual to have Brant far upstream at Yaquina Bay, but 185 Brant
were feeding on native eelgrass (Zostera marina) on the south side of
the Bay across from Sawyer's Landing (JL & CP); this is approximately
at Road Milepost 4.2 along north Yaquina Bay Road.  Starting in 2007,
YB&N is a project partner of the International Brant Monitoring
Project (IBMP) (http://www.padillabay.gov/brant/agencies.html); see
their Observations Log for reports along the Pacific Coast
(http://www.padillabay.gov/brant/observationlogs/log1314.asp ).
Historical Yaquina Estuary records for Brant are accessible by
clicking "View/Open" at
http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/handle/1957/8081

WW found our first REDHEAD of the year, an adult male, at Sally's Bend on 3/12.

WH noticed a herring spawn at YBSJ on 3/11 that resulted in scoters
aggregating.  On 3/14, RL saw a variety of birds taking advantage of
the recent herring spawn, with 12 HARLEQUIN DUCKS (11 males) hanging
out at the 2nd finger jetty with a lot of squawking directed toward
the lone female, photos at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24707703@N06/sets/72157642411797915/
E&RG had the high Harlequin count with 22 at the YBSJ on 3/17.   For
12 photos and comments that well show and describe the bird behavior
and aggregations as well as photos of 3 Long-tailed Ducks at this
herring spawn, see JSa's blog for her 3/20 observation date (posted on
3/21) at http://www.iusedtohatebirds.com/2014/03/newport.html

A report of Harlequin records through 1992 that includes some records
for other Oregon coastal counties and Alex Walker's unpublished
nesting report in Tillamook County is at
http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1957/8061/vol.%203%20pg.%20243-260.pdf

The female, rare KING EIDER found off 68th Street in north Newport
during the Jan. 5 Yaquina Bay CBC was often noted with the latest
report at the end of the reporting period on 3/23 (eBird).  The
Lincoln Co. King Eider residency record is for a female that KM found
at the YBSJ on 12/8/1996 that was reported last on 3/24/1997 -- will
the 68th Street eider remain later?  The 68th Street eider was along
with 400 BLACK SCOTERS and 320 SURF SCOTERS on 3/8 (A&CH, HH, JSi &
OH); this area may be the best Lincoln County site for Black Scoters.

There were many reports of 1-3 BARROW'S GOLDENEYES at Yaquina Bay and
also reports of 1 at north Siletz Bay during 3/8 & 12 (MR; WW).  1-4
LONG-TAILED DUCKS were also regularly viewed at Yaquina Bay during the
report period ending on 3/23 (m.ob.)

[Image Not Included: One of 11 male and 1 female Harlequin Ducks at
the Yaquina Bay South Jetty on 3/14.  Photo © by Roy Lowe from one of
6 Harlequin photos at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24707703@N06/sets/72157642411797915/]


QUAIL-RAPTORS (including falcons)

M&SN found a MOUNTAIN QUAIL on 3/19 at Fox Creek (1 mile south of Seal
Rocks) (fide BB).

Single CLARK'S GREBES were noted at Yaquina Bay during the reporting
period (m.ob.), and 1 LAYSAN ALBATROSS and 3 NORTHERN FULMARS washed
ashore in Feb. along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo,
L&VO); in 2013, 2 beached Laysans were found there, so beached Laysans
are uncommon to rare.

So far this year through 3/23, BROWN PELICANS have been absent with
the exception of an uncertain report at Seal Rocks on 3/15.  This is a
big change from the past 2 years when we had records each month during
Jan.-March, and there were records each month of the year in 2008,
2010, & 2012 (FN).

We had a scattering of reports of single GREAT EGRETS at Yaquina,
Siletz, & Alsea Bays, Beaver Cr., Salmon River, and Eckman Lake, along
with a report of 2 at Eckman Lake on 3/10 (m.ob.).

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).
JL & CP finished the Raptor Run season with one last run on 3/7 along
the Inland or Yaquina River-Siletz Raptor Route that was 66 miles long
and took 4.3 hours.  JL reports that:

"the weather was warm and partly sunny after a series of stormy days,
and fields and pastures were partly flooded.  Since March count
numbers are usually low, we were surprised to find more than our
average number of RED-TAILED HAWKS (20), many of them flying, but no
kites, harriers, peregrine or accipiters.  We were also pleased to see
one RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, a lone AMERICAN KESTREL, and five BALD EAGLES
(all adults)."

Another Red-shouldered Hawk was at the HMSC during 3/7-8 (eBird), but
we had no reports of White-tailed Kites.

1 or 2 OSPREY were intermittently reported during winter until 2/9,
but the apparent first migrant was detected at Yachats on 3/4 (BB).

On 2/25, PD saw 4 COMMON RAVENS and a PEREGRINE FALCON flying north of
Mo's Restaurant along the Newport Bayfront.  The Peregrine was
attacking by flying at one of the larger ravens, and the raven was
doing aerial acrobatics in twisting and turning while in flight.  PD
said she felt like she was watching a WWII movie of fighters attacking
bombers!  Ravens have become more common in lower Yaquina Bay, but 4
ravens there also seems an unusually high number.

Update to the Peregrine soap opera at Yaquina Head, WH notes that he
has seen 4 females there this winter, including the breeding female
and the interloping female banded as C5.  On 2/28, there was aerial
combat between C5 and apparently the breeding female at Yaquina Head
(DC).

No MERLINS were reported, and, other than during the Raptor Run,
single kestrels were also at Hudson Loop between Toledo and Siletz on
3/7 (JL) and at Beaver Creek on 3/11 (DHo).


SHOREBIRDS-WOODPECKERS

A WHIMBREL was at Seal Rocks on 3/8 (A&CH, HH, JSi & OH), and a
BONAPARTE'S GULL at Yaquina Bay on 3/9 (CC) is a few weeks early so
may be a vagrant rather than early migrant.

During a 1 hour morning seawatch on 3/10 at Boiler Bay, PP estimated
25,000+ COMMON MURRES in flocks streaming south.  2 MARBLED MURRELETS
were at Seal Rocks on 3/8 (A&CH, HH, JSi & OH), and another 2 were off
of 32nd Street in Lincoln City on 3/22 (MR).

An adult, rare PARAKEET AUKLET was less than 150 yards off Boiler Bay
on 3/10 (PP).

The first BAND-TAILED PIGEONS arrived at Eckman Lake on 2/28 (RL).

JL saw 1-2 BARRED OWLS at Hudson Loop between Toledo and Siletz during
5 days in March.

RL led the YBNFT on 3/22, and they observed female RUFOUS and ANNA'S
HUMMINGBIRDS gathering furry cattail seeds to line their nests at
Eckman Lake.

1 RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER was at Hudson Loop between Toledo and Siletz
on 3/11 & 19 (JL).

On 3/19, CP saw a NORTHERN FLICKER with yellow-shafts at his home in
Toledo.  For records through 1992, flickers with yellow-shafts were
not reported here from 4/11 to 10/8 (SemiL).  Will they be later this
year?

[Image Not Included: Female Rufous Hummingbird harvesting fluffy
cattail seeds for use as nesting material at Eckman Lake on March 22.
Photo © by Roy Lowe from 1 of 7 photos of female Rufous and Anna's
Hummingbirds harvesting cattail seeds at Eckman Lake at
https://www.flickr.com/photos/24707703@N06/sets/72157642817867604/]


FLYCATCHERS-GOLDFINCH

BW found a SAY'S PHOEBE near the apartments at the HMSC on 3/15 & 16
that was resighted in that area through 3/18 (m.ob.); click on MS's
photo to see more photos at
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17507536  Prior to 1993,
we only had 3 records (SemiL), but since 2000, they were reported
during Feb.-April in 2001 and 2006, there was 1 sighting each year
during 2009-2011, 2 sightings in 2012, but none in 2013 (FN).

1-2 WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS were in Newport during 4 days in March, and 1
was also at Otter Crest north of Otter Rock on 3/5 (MG).

Spring firsts include: TREE SWALLOW on 2/22 at Beaver Creek (DHo), 3/1
at Yachats (BB), and 3/2 in Toledo (DHa & RP); first singing BROWN
CREEPER on 3/12 in Toledo (DHa), and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW on 3/13 in
the HMSC area (WW).

The only WESTERN BLUEBIRD record received during the reporting period
was at Yaquina Head on 2/9 (BLM).

AMERICAN PIPITS were at Yaquina Head on 2/8-9 (BLM) during the cold
snap as reported in last month's newsletter, but our only report after
2/15 was on 3/8 at the HMSC (A&CH, HH, JSi & OH).

A Slate-colored DARK-EYED JUNCO appeared at ME's feeder at Road's End,
north of Lincoln City, on 3/13-14, and a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW singing
in Newport on 3/23 suggests their spring arrival, although some
overwinter (RB).

A HOODED ORIOLE on private property about 2 miles south of Waldport on
2/14 (DR) was included in last month's newsletter.  With landowner
BC's gracious permission, one was appreciated and reported in the same
area on 3/8 (A&CH, HH, JSi & OH); see AH's photos at
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17366097  It was
subsequently seen through 3/11 (m.ob.).

[Image Not Included: Male Hooded Oriole that had been coming to a
hummingbird feeder south of Waldport.  March 8 photo © by Jamie
Simmons.]

With Spring, there are departures as well as arrivals.  Our latest
WESTERN MEADOWLARK was at the HMSC on 3/18 (MS); click on MS's
meadowlark photo at
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17507536 to see more.

An uncommon LESSER GOLDFINCH was at HMSC feeders on 3/8 (A&CH, HH, JSi
& OH).  Thanks to their prompt reporting, CP saw it at the USFWS
feeders at the south end of the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center
campus on 3/9.

OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Birding Oregon
(http://birdingoregon.info/), BirdNotes.net, Bureau of Land Management
staff and volunteers at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area (BLM),
Don Campbell, Bob Carr, Cheryl Chessick, Pat Dickey, eBird.org
(location and observer not accessible in "View and Explore Data" for
"All Observations" but available through "Bar Charts"), Mark Elliott,
fide ("as reported by" someone other than the observer), Eve & Rob
Gill, Michael Green, Jeff Harding, Oscar Harper, Dawn Harris (DHa),
Hendrik Herlyn, Adrian & Christopher Hinkle, Wayne Hoffman, Deb
Holland (DHo), Janet Lamberson, Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing
(LCBNO) (https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/LCBNO/info), Bob Loeffel
(BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Kathy Merrifield, Sandra
Morey, m.ob. (multiple observers), Michael & Sally Noack, Field Notes
(FN; Lincoln County records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are
searchable in search box 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, Chuck Philo, Phil Pickering, Mitch
Ratzlaff, Doug Robinson, Jen Sanford (JSa), SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln
Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive@OSU
[http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Jamie Simmons (JSi), Molly
Sultany, Patti Truhn, Dawn Villaescusa, Wayne Weber, Ben Wishnek,
Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (http://yaquina.info/ybn/) Field Trip
(YBNFT) led by RL.


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[obol] March Lincoln Co. Bird Notes Received During 2/26-3/23

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