Hi all,
I was pretty excited and surprised to have a new yard bird, a Western
Kingbird, land in one of my backyard trees near the feeder a half hour
ago. I live between Manzanita and Nehalem on the hill between beach and
bay. I watched it fly catching in the dunes behind my house for awhile and
then it moved south and east towards Bayside Gardens I presume.
Other notable birds form my morning beach walk include 3 Red-necked
Phalarope moving north along with a few Whimbrel and BB Plovers. In
Nehalem Bay at low tide were about a thousand shorebirds, mostly Western,
some Leasts, but 9 BB Plovers, 1 Pac Golden Plover, 1 Solitary Sandpiper,
many Yellowlegs, Dowitchers and a few Dunlin.
Also had my first Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak and Hermit
Warblers this morning. The Purple Finches are inhabiting my feeders (they
breed behind my house) and a few Pine Siskins remain.
Two weeks ago, I had a Long-billed Curlew fly over my backyard too.
Happy Migrations, Beverly Hallberg
