I worked in this part of the Oregon Coast Range on various projects and
jobs for 20 years or more beginning 1982. I spent several hours there
today on old stomping grounds, a beautiful day.
Mountain Quail, Sooty Grouse, Townsend's Solitaire, Band-tailed Pigeon
numbers seemed about right and the first Hermit Warbler was right on time
(first dates in my mind are 4/19 and 4/21). 3 Rufous Hummers seemed a low
number with plenty of gorgeous blooming Ribes sanguineum around.
In those years, Evening Grosbeaks and Red Cross bills would usually have
been everywhere and today there were none, although both can be somewhat
irruptive.
Hammond's Flycatchers might arrive any day, none today.
I was up high about 2-4 miles off the Mainline, several miles above the
Weyco Gate at Upper Mill Creek Park in an area with 5 year old to 80 yo
forest and a lot of old-growth trees mixed in.
Be very careful to ascertain if any log trucks are in the area, as it is
impossible to pass on the very narrow and steep roads and that can be
almost disastrous.
The only common Warbler was Orange-Crowned
Roy Gerig Salem OR
