Just was forwarded a report of a TROPICAL KINGBIRD on Tanbark Road in
Brookings. Interestingly, I saw one there on 17 October. Possibly the
same bird 6 weeks later?
Yesterday I had no luck refinding the SAY'S PHOEBE that was reported on the
beach in Bandon on the 25th and 26th. Maybe it is wintering in a nearby
neighborhood? I looked without luck on the beach and in the local
neighborhoods.
I drove to the SE corner of the county and camped in Eden Valley last
night. Cold and wet up there. The drive up is on a road that doesn't get
much sun. It was frosted over in many spots at 3PM yesterday afternoon. I
arrived at the only semi-dry camp spot at a place called Ash Swamp about
4PM. I heard a BARRED OWL off and on all night. They have been regular at
this location for 20 years now.
In the AM the puddles near my campsite were frozen solid- and it was 26F.
Lucky I had stashed plenty of wood in my pickup earlier this fall, Was
toasty and headed up to Mt. Bolivar by 0800. The trail is up 1,400 feet in
about 1.5 miles to the summit. It was snowy and pretty birdless up top,
unlike Mary's Peak. They are about the same elevation but very different
bird-wise. Gorgeous hike though- the usual great views of Mt. Shasta, Mt.
McLoughlin, peaks around Crater lake, Mt. Thielsen and north to Diamond
Peak. The best bird was a getting late TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE which of course
breed there but maybe not overwinter every year??
Then back down to Eden Valley where at 1130 it was still 34F (it was in the
40s on Mt. Bolivar trail). I hit the meadow there and it was crawling with
robins. I played a few tapes and after a while heard a wheezy sounding
chickadee- kaching, in flew a MTN CHICKADEE. One, the only chickadee I
actually saw well all day. I get to see these in Coos about every five
years.
I headed back down through the 34F drive (at noon) to Powers and beyond.
At the 11.4 mile marker along the Powers Hwy I spied a SAY'S PHOEBE in a
ranch pasture. I stopped and got great looks at it, making up for the bird
I missed the day before.
Don and Robyn Henise report a SAY'S PHOEBE at the fairgrounds in Myrtle
Point today also. They had onere there a while back but it must hide well?
They also had a TREE SWALLOW and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK at Johnson Mill Pond
County park today also- near Coquille. This is the same place that Nicole
Koeltzow found a REDHEAD yesterday. Hopefully it (or all three) will stay
around for the CBC?
Don and Robyn also had a pair of ANCIENT MURRELETS at Cape Arago
yesterday. They were seen again today along with a N MOCKINGBIRD spotted
by Magill Weber who must be visiting, she has been doing a lot of reporting
lately on eBird.
I am sure I missed something? Saw a CC SPARROW last weekend on the way
into Floras Lake, Curry, There are some awesome sparrow flocks on the way
in there and another overwintering SAY'S Phoebe at a barn there on the loop
road. Reports of a RL HAWK there also.
Happy late fall birding all!
Tim Rodenkirk
Coos Bay
