I was out on the far south end of the N. Spit of Coos bay this morning (4x4
drive out). I went late and it was sunny and warm the entire time. I
managed to refind the two SNOW BUNTINGS that Sean Burns found on the Coos
Bay CBC back on 20 December. Out on the adjacent beach there was a large
number of shorebirds including:
72+ SNOWY PLOVERS (wow- amazing!)
15-20 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS
150 SANDERLINGS
100- WESTERN SANDPIPERS
50- LEAST SANDPIPERS
I did not see any Dunlin which was very unusual, they are usually the most
common species. Western Sandpiper numbers were high, and they were the
species mainly on the beach with the Sanderlings and Semipalmated Plovers.
Over near the jetty I saw a few Brown Pelicans and several Harlequin Ducks,
the ocean was quiet offshore- too nice.
At the old Weyco pond site there weren't many ducks, but did see 30
CANVASBACK still around (down from 100+ a few weeks ago).
I then drove up the Coos River to milepost 7 at the Doris Place boat ramp
area (barns before the boat ramp) and saw one of the two SAY'S PHOEBES
there. Joe Metzler found these last month. On the Coquille Valley CBC on 2
Jan Neil Holcomb found another Say's Phoebe up Twomile Creek south of
Bandon and I saw one at Picture Valley Road near Norway in the Coquille
Valley. This is the best overwintering show ever for Coos for Say's, a
species which was first found overwintering less than a decade ago.
Later I saw one of the BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS at the Coos Bay post
office roost and the male EURASIAN WIGEON continues at Mingus Park.
Merry New Bird!
Tim Rodenkirk
Coos Bay
