[obol] Re: Home from Morrow County blitz (Oregon 2020)
- From: "5hats@xxxxxxxx" <5hats@xxxxxxxx>
- To: OBOL Oregon Birders Online <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "llsdirons@xxxxxxx" <llsdirons@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2014 15:04:41 +0000
David,
Several years back I found a persistently singing Least Flycatcher in the
cottonwoods at Willow Creek WMA, on the eastern border of Gilliam County, which
would not be far from the Morrow County site. Gives food for thought.
Darrel
Sent from Windows Mail
From: David Irons
Sent: June 1, 2014 11:14 PM
To: OBOL Oregon Birders Online
Subject: [obol] Home from Morrow County blitz (Oregon 2020)
After three straight days of all-out birding, Shawneen and I finally made it
home after a minor detour to Battle Ground, WA to drop off Jim Danzenbaker.
Most of you probably heard about the American Redstart that we found at
Deschutes River S.P. on Friday. Early Saturday morning (about 6:30AM) Shawneen
and I had a singing Veery in the town of Lexington about 25 miles south of
Boardman. We stopped by there again this morning around 9:30, but did not see
or hear the bird. Others were already at the site when we got there and may
have heard it sing. We found the bird at the creek crossing on B St. about
three blocks south of Hwy 207 near the east edge of town. Also, we had a nice
male Black-chinned Hummingbird that seems to really like perching on the
utility wire along Arcade St. between B and C streets.
Our survey blocks on Saturday were in forested extreme southwest corner of the
county along various side roads off of Hwy 207. Much of this area is within the
Umatilla National Forest. We had six species of woodpeckers, six species of
flycatchers, lots of Cassin's Finches, both Western and Mountain Bluebirds
(lots), a nice mix of warblers and other species one expects to find in mixed
pine-fir forests. Most of Morrow County is unforested and planted in crops, but
the southern edge of the county extends into the Blue Mountains. This morning,
we cleaned up a couple of ag land squares that did not get surveyed on Saturday
and then went back down to the southern end of the county with Jim, who spent
Saturday in the northern part of the county. We visited one of the highest
points in the southeast corner of the county (above 5000') where Dusky Grouse
had been found on Saturday. We didn't find those, but did have a single Ruffed
Grouse. The scenery and the birding are both wonderful and it was great fun to
explore some areas that I've not been to previously.
Of other interest is the discovery of multiple Least Flycatchers at a single
site on private property near Boardman. I am not at liberty to share any more
information at this point and I will not answer queries (public or private).
Others may eventually be able to share more details about these sightings, but
it is not my place to do so. A few folks involved with the Morrow County 2020
blitz were guided to the site after the original discovery of the first bird
yesterday. At least four singing Leasts were heard at the site today.
I am sharing this information not because these birds will be chaseable (they
won't), but because it is a good heads up to look for and more importantly
listen for territorial Leasts when you are in appropriate habitats in
north-central, and northeastern Oregon. Least Flycatchers breed annually at a
number of spots in eastern Washington and may be a bit of a stealth breeder in
eastern Oregon as well. Over recent years, territorial males have been found
several times in Klamath County, usually in stands of cottonwoods, aspens, or
poplars along waterways and around the edges of large lakes in the county (i.e.
Upper Klamath and Davis Lakes). The Morrow County birds were in dense poplars
and readily heard but not easily seen as they stay fairly high within the
canopy. Extensive stands of cottonwoods and poplars along rivers on the
eastside may be worth checking. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the very
distinctive snappy, and persistent "che bek" song of this species. It will be
repeated incessantly as males set up territories.
After I get a chance to sift through the many photos I took, I will put
together a more thorough field report from this long weekend. In three weeks
there will be another county-wide Oregon 2020 blitz in Baker County. Shawneen
and I will be there. It's a long haul for most of us to get to Baker County,
but I heartily recommend participating in this project. It is a great way to
learn about new areas, learn some birds you don't see all the time, and
familiarize yourself with corners of Oregon that you may not find reason to
visit otherwise. I've done virtually no birding in Baker County, so I am really
looking forward to a long weekend learning a new county.
Dave Irons
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