More precisely along the main, paved, Bayocean Road.
(Apology for misspelling Wigeon as Widgeon, I just can't get it straight)
I birded this area pretty heavily in the 1980's 1990's and early 2000's.
After that too d****ed busy.with trivia such as work.
In those early days every fall/winter trip I encountered 500-1000+ American
Wigeon
along this road. They wintered there. Had they been absent I would have
noticed it and
been surprised. When I only found 4 a few days ago I jumped to the
conclusion they
were 'gone'. Just like the summer/fall shorebirds from the flats. (more on
that later).
So I now checked eBird which I should have done before making the comment.
Not much data, surprisingly. But perhaps not many birders go there
nowadays.
Anyhow the attached data gives a somewhat spotty picture. At times there
are
numbers in the 1000's, other times not so much.
The low numbers often found agree with the 4 wigeon I found a few days ago.
I wonder why they are so variable these days.
Now a few days ago I did see a flock of 50 or so at the NE end of the Bay,
(I covered the entire Bay in my recent trip.)
This also made me think there should have been many more along the
Bayocean Road. So perhaps they have not just moved elsewhere in the Bay?
Bob OBrien Carver OR See attached.
Attachment:
AMWI-Tillamook.xls.jpg
Description: JPEG image
