Out on the N. Spit of Coos Bay this morning at the old Weyco settling pond
site I saw 6 BLACK SWIFTS at 0719. The first one I noticed flying north
above a swallow I was watching; it was a male with a forked tail. I
wouldn't have seen the other high flyers without my bins- I picked them up
headed north higher up as I scanned the sky after seeing the first bird.
Conditions were mostly overcast but the clouds were high. No wind at the
time.
At the pond there duck-wise there is still a pair of AMERICAN WIGEON (never
have bred in the county but often linger until early June at this site),
one pair of RUDDY DUCKS (only one breeding record), there was a pair of N.
SHOVELERS yesterday which may still be around (occasional breeders), and
probably 20 pairs of GADWALL which is the common breeder at the site now
(more numerous than Mallards). Also 3 BUFFLEHEAD which seem to regularly
oversummer but not breed at the site.
Merry migration all!
Tim R
Coos Bay
