[obol] Oct. Lincoln Co. Bird Notes Received Through 10/28
- From: Range Bayer <range.bayer@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: Oregon Birders OnLine <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing" <LCBNO@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 17:45:02 -0800
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BIRD FIELD NOTES from the October 2013 Sandpiper 34(8)
for Observations Received Through 10/28 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/): BAYVIEW PASTURE: pasture/field
near creek about 0.4 mile east of junction of North Alsea Bay Road
with South Beaver Creek Road, 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, GRASS
MOUNTAIN (E of Tidewater and NW of Alsea; most [including the top] in
Benton Co., but part of north in Lincoln Co.; http://goo.gl/maps/2RQjB
and http://www.summitpost.org/grass-mountain/225586), "GULL PUDDLE":
often wet area near west edge of large parking area along the YBSJ
about 0.6 mile west of the Yaquina Bay Bridge where gulls often
linger, 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 (#77): State Park about 6.6 mi south
of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, PIXIELAND: former
amusement park near Otis along Salmon River being restored to a
natural site (http://www.opb.org/programs/ofg/segments/view/1773),
ROAD'S END STATE RECREATION SITE (#46): north of Lincoln City, 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., SP: State Park, YBNJ: Yaquina Bay North
Jetty, YBSJ (#71): Yaquina Bay South Jetty, YAQUINA HEAD OUTSTANDING
NATURAL AREA (#65): headland north of Newport.
WATERFOWL
GR. WHITE-FRONTED GEESE migration continued with the vast
majority passing overhead. However, a few dropped out, mostly
juveniles landing and lingering at various sites in late September and
early October. The grounded white-fronts seemed "tame" to the point
of some observers wondering if they were domestic geese.
Starting on about 9/24, the "Gull Puddle" along the YBSJ was the
most observed site for them with 7 juveniles and 1 adult consistently
there until the morning of 10/7, when WHo noted: "This morning at 8 AM
I saw them take off together in rapid flight - I assumed an eagle was
approaching, but I could not see one, and the nearby gulls did not
fly. Then I looked up and saw a flock of 120 or so geese overhead,
going south. I could not be sure of the ID, but they seemed to be
either White-fronts or Cackling Geese. Meanwhile the 8 local birds
were flying south in the same direction and climbing, as if they were
going to try and join them." The white-fronts were absent from the
Gull Puddle area at mid-day that day but at 4:40 PM, WHo found 7
white-fronteds and 1 CACKLING GOOSE there. It is unknown if these are
the same or coincidentally the same number of white-fronts as before.
From then through 10/19, up to 8 juvenile white-fronteds and 2
TAVERNER'S CACKLING GEESE and 1-2 ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE were often
reported in the Gull Puddle area (WHo; RL; m.ob.).
These geese fascinated and were appreciated by many. For
example, DI wrote on 10/7: "Over the past two weekends I enjoyed
studying and photographing these Greater White-fronted Geese at close
range. As WHo indicates, they have been fixtures around the 'gull
puddle' and extremely approachable as long as you remain in your
vehicle. Many cars (presumably filled with non-birders) have slowed
or stopped to look at them or waited as they sauntered across the
road." DI also has photos and discussion of these and other Lincoln
Co. birds in late Sept. at
http://www.birdfellow.com/members/dave_irons/field_reports/837-lincoln-county-coast-late-september-storm-2013
3 juvenile white-fronts landed and lingered at Tidewater about 8
miles east of Waldport during 10/1-2 (JPa) for an uncommon inland
record on the ground, though many white-fronts fly across the Alsea
drainage of the Coast Range during migration (Spring and fall
migration of geese across the Coast Range of Lincoln Co., Oregon; by
R. D. Bayer, R. W. Lowe, and D. Faxon. 1995. Oregon Birds
21[1]:10-12 at
http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/oregon-birds-1995-goose-migration.pdf).
Other sites with white-fronts on the ground include 1 juvenile
at Roads End SP on 10/3-4 (PSo; ME), and less than a dozen mostly
white-fronts and 2 CANADA GEESE on the lawn in front of the HMSC
Visitor Center on 10/3-4 (MB). On 10/9, PR heard and saw 2 juvenile
white-fronts fly in and land in the field by Sam Case School in NE
Newport; he walked within 40-50 ft of them, and they acted
unconcerned.
While the previous reports were areas where migration dropouts
lingered, there were also reports of white-fronts from areas where
some overwinter. On 9/30, WHo counted 18 at Bayview (north of Alsea
Bay), and on 10/5, LO counted 25 in the Beaver Creek valley.
ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE continued passing through at least 10/27
at Boiler Bay (PP).
On 10/6, DI, SF, & KG spotted a lone, uncommon SNOW GOOSE flying
west out of Yaquina Bay towards the ocean.
During a 10/27 Boiler Bay seawatch, PP saw 7 passing CINNAMON or
BLUE-WINGED TEAL.
Waterfowl arrivals include EURASIAN WIGEON on 10/2 at Idaho
Flats (WHe) and a LONG-TAILED DUCK on 10/15 flying by Depoe Bay (JG).
A rare KING EIDER flew south past Depoe Bay on 10/16 (JG) and
10/19 during the ECAS field trip (JM & others).
QUAIL-RAPTORS
A CALIFORNIA QUAIL east of Seal Rocks on 10/4 at South Beach is
our only report of them since April (CT & MD).
On 10/17 at the YBSJ, KM studied a raft of 13 COMMON LOONS.
Some were closer to breeding and some closer to winter plumage.
"Those that were near breeding plumage had white feathers around their
cheeks and bill base, so it looked as if they had a faint light face
mask."
1-2 CLARK'S GREBES were at Boiler Bay on 10/3 (CT & MD), Yachats
on 10/17 (PSu & CK), and Yaquina Head during the 10/19 ECAS field trip
(JM & others).
Offshore, the 10/5 Bird Guide Pelagic Trip (BGPT) viewed 1 rare
FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER, LAYSAN and BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES, SOOTY,
PINK-FOOTED, and BULLER'S SHEARWATERS, and FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS.
From shore, Sooty Shearwaters were numerous and often reported,
and at Boiler Bay on 10/24, there was a Buller's (BD, TJ, & JPo) and a
Pink-footed (PP). A rare MANX-type SHEARWATER was noted at Boiler Bay
during the 10/19 ECAS field trip (JM & others) and PP's 10/27
seawatch.
TURKEY VULTURES have departed with our latest at Pixieland on 10/17 (DV).
A female juvenile OSPREY was rescued by the Yachats Fire Dept.
on 9/24 after being tossed around by the waves and found on the rocks
(BB). It spent the night in Fire Chief Frankie's shower and was
transported to Chintimini Wildlife Center near Corvallis
(http://www.chintiminiwildlife.org/), where it was found to only have
wing soft tissue injuries (BB). It was released on 10/7 in Yachats to
continue her migration south, and as BB writes, it was a "wonderful
save of a beautiful bird."
An Osprey was noted as late as 10/28 at Yaquina Head (BLM).
On 10/20 at his home in Logsden, BLl "finally got an excellent
view of a NORTHERN GOSHAWK! It landed in a medium sized Fir in my
yard, screamed, looked down at me, right in the eyes, then took off
screaming across my field, flap flap flap glide, screaming 10 times in
a row or so. Very impressive."
RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS continue to become more established with 3
more Sept. and 15 Oct. records of singletons at a variety of
locations.
A MERLIN was at the HMSC on 10/3 (RQ, MW), Yachats on 10/12
(V&ET), and YBSJ on 10/13 (WHo & CP). PEREGRINE FALCONS were commonly
reported (especially at Yaquina Head [BLM]), but our only AMERICAN
KESTREL was at an unspecified location during the 10/19 ECAS field
trip (JM & others).
[Image Not Included: With a backdrop of fall colors, a young
Sharp-shinned Hawk stands on its right leg at Toledo on Oct. 21.
Photo by Ram Papish. Uninjured birds often stand on one leg and tuck
their other leg into their feathers; this reduces heat loss through
the unfeathered skin of their exposed leg, like putting your exposed
hand in your pocket when it is chilly
(http://www.stanford.edu/group/stanfordbirds/text/essays/Temperature_Regulation.html).]
COOTS-ALCIDS
RM found the first of season AMERICAN COOT at Devils Lake during
the 9/21 Lincoln Co. North American Migration Count, and he found a
raft of 100 there on 10/6.
On 10/23 at Siletz Bay, a single GOLDEN-PLOVER sp. flew along
the north shore of Cutler City (JG). 1-4 MARBLED GODWITS were at
Idaho Flats on 9/17& 30 (BO & RB; MW).and Siletz Bay on 9/24 (MV), and
our only WHIMBREL was north of Ona Beach on 10/6 (LO).
1-3 juvenile PECTORAL SANDPIPERS graced the Gull Puddle during
10/1-14 (WHo; RL; CP). Pectorals generally move in and out of salt
marsh or other vegetation, so this was a great opportunity see and
study them out in the open.
Our first-of-season ROCK SANDPIPER was on the rocks at Depoe Bay
on 10/16 (JG).
An uncommon FRANKLIN'S GULL stood at D River Wayside (Lincoln
City) on 9/26 (DN & MF), and 3 SABINE'S GULLS were recorded during the
10/5 BGPT.
The influx of ELEGANT TERNS that started in August continued
into Sept., with the latest report of 2 at the YBSJ on 9/28 (WHo; DI &
SF [photo at
http://www.birdfellow.com/members/dave_irons/field_reports/837-lincoln-county-coast-late-september-storm-2013]).
On 9/28 at YBSJ, DI & SF watched a flock of five ARCTIC TERNS
fly in from the ocean, and 7 were there the next day (D&LF).
CASPIAN TERNS were last detected at the YBSJ on 10/8 (PO).
Offshore, the 10/5 BGPT noted POMARINE and PARASITIC JAEGERS and
2 SOUTH POLAR SKUAS.
MARBLED MURRELETS were commonly reported.
In September, 1 TUFTED PUFFIN and 58 adult and 45 juvenile
COMMON MURRES were tallied along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach
(B&SLo, L&VO). This number of adult murres is the highest since BLo's
surveys began in 1978, with the previous high of 22 in 1989. However,
distinguishing between adults and juveniles in late summer and early
fall can be challenging because of similar size and plumage. In
October 1986, 1987, 2011, and 2012, a total of 43, 150, 88, and 50
murres were found, respectively, so large numbers can wash ashore in
October, and, perhaps, this September's number of beached murres is
more like an "October" than a "September."
RS leads OSU's Seabird Oceanography Lab at the HMSC. Some
highlights for 2013 of their 12 year study of Common Murre nesting at
Yaquina Head were that chicks were first observed on June 24 with a
median hatch date of July 4, a week later than in 2012. Reproductive
success in 2013 was similar to 2011 and 2012, but less than half of
the previous 4 years (2007-2010), and the third lowest recorded for
this colony during 12 years. Disturbance rates first began to
increase in 2010, and then greatly escalated in 2011 and 2012. In
contrast, disturbances in 2013 were lower, particularly rates of egg
and chick loss which were markedly less than the past two years. Bald
Eagles were again the dominant disturbance source (93% of
disturbances), unlike in 2012 when Bald Eagles caused only 47% of
disturbances. Preliminary results of forage fish species consumed in
2013 included smelt and secondarily Pacific herring or sardine and
Pacific sand lance. A notable difference in diets among the past six
years was the dominance of sand lance in 2008, the dominance of smelt
in 2010, and the increased consumption of flatfishes in 2011.
Preliminary results show 2013 as intermediate in composition among
these years, with smelts comprising about half the diet. (Their
10-page report is at
http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/seabirdoceanographylab/sites/default/files/yaquina_head_seabirds_2013_endofseasonreport.pdf
or can be accessed along with the 2007-2012 reports at
http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/seabirdoceanographylab/seabird-tracking-and-prey-patch-dynamics
by reading down to the reference for "Suryan, R. M. et al." at the
bottom.)
GULLS & STARLINGS HAWKING AERIAL INSECT SWARMS
One natural history feature of warm days with little wind in
late summer and early fall is the ephemeral occurrence of aerial
mating swarms of insects that can include flying ants and termites.
These flights often occur after most insectivorous birds such as
swallows and flycatchers have thinned out or departed. However, other
birds can take advantage of these, including gulls that fly in a
herky-jerky, flap-stall-flap-flap fashion with gulls seemingly
snapping into thin air with their bill when they stall--this behavior
signals that gulls are probably feeding on flying insects that we may
not be able to see. Hundreds of gulls sometimes fly in a milling,
meandering way while feeding on these aerial swarms near the coast.
This year on 10/6 at 11:15, WHo stopped at the HWY 101 pullout
just south of the Schooner Creek bridge at Lincoln City to watch a
swarm of (mostly CALIFORNIA GULLS) gulls feeding on flying insects.
EUROPEAN STARLINGS were also flying around up to 200 ft above the
ground, apparently chasing insects. In the past, RB has also seen
starlings feeding on insects in these swarms, though starlings are
usually seen feeding on the ground.
OWL-PHAINOPEPLA
In the early evening of 10/16, a BARN OWL swooped low over a
Toledo garden (DHa).
A BARRED OWL with a broken leg in Yachats on 10/11 was
transported to Chintimini Wildlife Center but was too badly injured to
be saved (BB). Single live Barred Owls were at Siletz on 10/2 (HO),
northeast of Toledo on 10/15 (WHe), Toledo on 10/17 (DHa), and Newport
on 10/19 (DHo).
CP had our latest VAUX'S SWIFTS (3) in Toledo on 10/7, and WHo
watched a single BLACK SWIFT fly east up the Schooner Creek valley
near Lincoln City on 10/6.
A late, lingering RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD continued until at least
10/17 at L&JM's home east of Sally's Bend. One has lingered there in
at least one recent winter.
A LEWIS'S WOODPECKER flycatched in the trees near his Toledo
home on 10/5 and, thanks to CP's prompt reporting, was also
appreciated that day by K&DR and DHo.
BLACK PHOEBES were found at a greater variety of sites this
month, with singletons at Pixieland on 9/25 (DV), Yachats on 10/12
(J&VT), Yaquina Bay SP on 10/13 (JB), north Beaver Creek on 10/17
(MW), and Yachats Commons Wetland on 10/20 (J&SW).
1-2 TROPICAL KINGBIRDS were at Schooner Creek (Lincoln City) on
10/4 (ME), HMSC on 10/13-16 (DG & EC; m. ob.), and north Depoe Bay on
10/17 (JG).
MW reported the first NORTHERN SHRIKE of fall at the HMSC on
10/18, and it was seen by at least 9 others during 10/19-21 & 23.
WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS were found in October at the HMSC (2 records
[RL; MW]), and Salmon River (1 record [JPi]). But most of our records
were at Newport Prep Academy near NE Eads in Newport with 5 records of
up to 3 scrub-jays by groups of up to 25 observers--these may be the
most seen scrub-jays in Lincoln County!
PSu & CK discovered 2 HORNED LARKS along the trail to the mouth
of the Yachats River on 10/17, and MW saw 2 the next day at Smelt
Sands SP in Yachats. We only had 7 records of them since 1998 prior
to these sightings (FN). Most of our recent sightings have been in
February in the short grass at the YBSJ.
Departing species include BARN SWALLOW at Pixieland on 9/25
(DV), VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS at Pixieland on 10/2 (DV), and HOUSE WREN
(which are pretty uncommon along the outer coast here) in South Beach
on 10/14 (WHo).
On 10/10-11, a PHAINOPEPLA was reported in Yachats by several
residents (fide AC; fide DHo). By it was missed in spite of diligent
searching by many birders during 10/11-12. On 10/13, AC noted that at
least one person photographed what the person thought was a
Phainopepla, though the photo revealed that it was a STELLER'S JAY,
which similarly to a Phainopepla has a black crest; the bodies of
Steller's Jays when backlit or on overcast days can also look dark
like a Phainopepla . AC added "However, at least three people seem to
have seen the real thing on the first day [10/10]."
SOLITAIRE-MEADOWLARK
On 10/19 on the Lincoln County side of Grass Mt. above about
2,500 ft in elevation, CP & RB found a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE and 8+
WESTERN BLUEBIRDS. The solitaire often flew out flycatching and would
return to the same perch. The bluebirds did some flycatching but
seemed to mostly be flying, calling, and interacting with each other.
There were occasional flying termites rising up into the sky that the
solitaire and the bluebirds may have been feeding on.
AMERICAN PIPITS seem to have been reported more this Sept. and
Oct. than in recent years. In Oct., 1-2 were noted the Gull Puddle
along the YBSJ on 10/16 (MS), at an unspecified location during the
10/19 ECAS field trip (JM & others), and at the Salmon River on 10/20
(MRi).
1-2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS were in the dunes near the YBNJ on 10/6
(DI, SF, & KG) and Yaquina Head on 10/24 (BD). A possible
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR was flushed from the tall beach grass below
Yaquina Bay SP on 10/26 (DF & MW).
Seasonal departures include WESTERN TANAGER near Yachats on
10/17 (PSu & CK), COMMON YELLOWTHROAT at Sally's Bend during the 10/19
ECAS field trip (JM & others), and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER at the HMSC
on 10/20 (MRa).
1-2 PALM WARBLERS were along the HMSC Nature Trail on 10/13 (EC
& DG), relocated on 10/14 (WHo), and seen by many observers during
10/19-20, including the YBNFT (EH) and ECAS field trip (JM & others).
First of season birds include WESTERN MEADOWLARK at the HMSC on
9/26 (RQ) and WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at Yaquina Bay SP on 10/6 (DI,
SF, & KG).
On 10/19, J&KF found an uncommon VESPER SPARROW at the HMSC.
This is only our 6th record since 1992 (FN).
[Image Not Included: Western Meadowlark at the YBSJ on Oct. 7. Photo
by Roy Lowe.]
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Bird Guide Pelagic
Trip out of Newport (BGPT; info about pelagic trips at
http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/ and 10/5/2013 trip report at
http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/archive/10052013.htm), Birding Oregon
(http://birdingoregon.info/), BirdNotes.net, Joe Blowers, Maryann
Bozza, Bureau of Land Management staff and volunteers at Yaquina Head
Outstanding Natural Area (BLM), Ellen Cantor, Alan Contreras, Barbara
Dolan, Michael Dupree, East Cascades Audubon Society (ECAS) field trip
reported by JM, eBird.org (location and observer not accessible in
"View and Explore Data" for "All Observations" but available through
"Bar Charts"), Mark Elliott, Jim and Karan Fairchild, Darrel & Laura
Faxon, fide ("as reported by" someone other than the observer),
Shawneen Finnegan, Mary French, Jeff Gilligan, Kara Greer, Dan Gusset,
Dawn Harris (DHa), William Hemstrom (WHe), Wayne Hoffman (WHo), Deb
Holland (DHo), Eric Horvath, Dave Irons, Tim Johnson, Carol Karlen,
Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO)
(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LCBNO/), Bob Llewellyn (BLl), Bob
Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Linda & John MacKown,
Rick Mark, Judy Meredith (JMe), Kathy Merrifield, m.ob. (multiple
observers), Doug Niwa, Field Notes (FN; Lincoln County records from
the Sandpiper since 1992 are searchable at
http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#recent), Bob Olson, Heather
Olson, Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; recent postings at
http://birdnews.aba.org/maillist/OR01), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Pamela
Otley, Jo with pamperingcampers.com (JP), Ram Papish, Chuck Philo,
Jody Picconi (JPi), Phil Pickering, Jonathan Pope (JPo), Robert
Qually, Max Rae (MRa), Paul Reed, Marc Ribaudo (MRi), Kathy & Dennis
Roberts, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for
each species at ScholarsArchive@OSU
[http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Max Smith, Patty Sorensen (PSo),
Paul Sullivan (PSu), Rob Suryan, Charles Thomas, Vjera & Eddie
Thompson, Matthew Valencic, Dawn Villaescusa, Mike Wheeler, Jay &
Susan Withgott, Yaquina Birders & Naturalists
(http://yaquina.info/ybn/) Field Trip (YBNFT) led by EH.
--
Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon
OBOL archives: www.freelists.org/archive/obol
Manage your account or unsubscribe: //www.freelists.org/list/obol
Contact moderators: obol-moderators@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Other related posts:
- » [obol] Oct. Lincoln Co. Bird Notes Received Through 10/28 - Range Bayer
