I spent 2/3 of today birding coastal Lane Co, starting about 7:45 at the
Siltcoos River. This proved to be where most of the action was. First, the
area is in good condition this year, with several pools of water at low tide.
The access trail from the “north slough” pullout is covered with driftwood but
is passable.
Best bird was one that got away - a probable RED-THROATED PIPIT that came in
with an Amerikanski pipit and flew around me in a huge circle allowing distant
but ok looks at it. Definitely had visible underside streaks and a patterned
back, plus the somewhat stubby look they have - I have seen quite a few in
Alaska and one in Oregon. In flight they are reminiscent of a Savannah Sparrow
and shorter than an American. Unfortunately it never called. At one point it
actually dove on the American in flight and the American dodged away, but they
stayed together and went out of sight more or less north of the dunefront
parking area. Two other flights of Americans came through - a decent day for
pipits.
Other highlights in that area were an adult WHITE-throated Sparrow (a few days
early) hanging with a Golden-crowned and both an adult and HY Herring Gull.
South Jetty crab pier flats held 25 Semi Plovers, a BB and six Western Sands.
About 600 Cal gulls were in that area.
Baker Beach road had a YELLOW Warbler at the horse parking, Pileated and
several V Rails along the road in. This is a fee site at the end but the patch
of alder and willow at the end of the road has grown up a lot and has become a
potential vagrant spot. The biggest cluster of trees contained several other
species besides the Yellow W.
Yellow Warbs have been discussed a bit today. I typically find occasional
singles on the outer coast until about October 10, after which they are much
harder.
RC Kinglets were at multiple sites, as were Fox Sparrows.
Northern Lane coast was pretty slow in the heat of the day - about 70 and
breezy after 11 or so. Almost 80 at Mapleton this afternoon. Of possible note
is that I saw very few egrets. There had been well over a hundred at the north
fork junction a couple of weeks back.
Alan Contreras
acontrer56@xxxxxxxxx
“Nostalgic for Nixon"
Eugene, Oregon
www.alanlcontreras.com
