Wow, that would be a sight to see!
Roy
On Nov 25, 2020, at 11:00 AM, Alan Contreras <acontrer56@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
One of the reasons that the Falcated Duck at Fern Ridge Dam some years was
considered of wild origin is that it arrived with 11 male Eurasian Wigeon.
You never know what might be in those wigeon flocks.
Alan Contreras
acontrer56@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:acontrer56@xxxxxxxxx>
Eugene, Oregon
www.alanlcontreras.com <http://www.alanlcontreras.com/>
On Nov 25, 2020, at 10:51 AM, Roy Lowe <roy.loweiii@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:roy.loweiii@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
From 1986-2001, I conducted aerial waterfowl surveys from Nehalem Bay to
Goat Island at Brookings. Initially, I did monthly surveys from October to
March but over the years that was reduced to a single January survey. At
Tillamook Bay I recorded 9,639 American Wigeon on 10.28.86 and 10,654 on
11.2.87. Our data is not broken down to specific areas within each estuary
but I can tell you from my experience and memory that at least 50% of the
wigeon were located in a large extended flock along Bayocean Road. Numbers
on Tillamook Bay and most estuaries were greatest in the fall before birds
dispersed to flooded pastures or left the coast completely. The wigeon
numbers in Tillamook Bay would be 50-65% lower by January.
In the area along Bayocean Road where the wigeon were located there were
small depressions in the tide flats and I could see eel grass growing there.
There was a west coast research project on eel grass so I collected some
from this area for the researchers. The mud out there was like quick sand
and I almost got stuck. Luckily I found a board when I was out there which
allowed me to escape on all fours pulling myself along. Oh, and the bummer
was when I got out there I discovered that all of the eel grass was invasive
Zostera japonica which was of no use to the research! Japanese eel grass
loses most of its leaves in the winter so perhaps that contributed to the
lower number of wigeon there later in the season. Somewhere buried in my
field notes is a note about ground survey I did from Bayocean Road one year
in the late 80’s or early 90’s where I counted 24 Eurasian wigeon in the
flock! Doubt that I’ll ever see that many again at one location in North
America.
Roy Lowe
Waldport, OR
On Nov 25, 2020, at 12:43 AM, Robert O'Brien <baro@xxxxxxx
<mailto:baro@xxxxxxx>> wrote:
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.
<AMWI-Tillamook.xls.jpg>
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