Jim Johnson and I hiked out from Seltzer Park at "the cove" in Seaside to
"second point" and back yesterday (18 March 2019). There had been a report
from 04 March of a count of 45 HARLEQUIN DUCKS from Seaside Cove logged on
ebird by Courtney Kelly Jett (of Bend, OR according to her profile). I was
impressed at that number, as was she according to her ebird notes. My
previous high count of harlequins in the state was 25, also from the cove.
We counted groups on the the way out west to second point where we turned
around. We didn't note any flocks west of second point. On our return to
Seltzer Park we did a more careful count and tallied an amazing 49
HARLEQUIN DUCKS. There were two smaller groups of 8 and 9 and then a
larger, and fairly spread out group of 32 in with some SURF SCOTERS. I
wonder what the largest site tally of Harlequin Ducks is for Oregon--my
copy of Birds of Oregon AGR is currently in storage.
Also at the cove were a couple BLACK SCOTERS, 5 RED-NECKED GREBES, and 7
HORNED GREBES.
As others noted yesterday, the change in weather has correlated with the
northward press of RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS. I noted at least three male RUFOUS
HUMMINGBIRDS flying from the Tillamook Headland out over the ocean and
heading straight north over the water. I have seen them do this later in
the season, but never this early before. By heading straight north across
the cove from Tillamook head they shave some distance off their northward
migration compared to if they stuck strictly to the shoreline. It is really
an interesting sight to observe.
We also saw a large shorebird that was likely a LONG-BILLED CURLEW flying
west from perhaps the Seaside golf course to out past first point and
beyond then going north, then east, then south until we lost sight of it.
LB Curlews are early migrants and this one seemed indecisive in what
direction it was taking. I won't be too surprised if it shows up on the
beaches or estuaries nearby in the coming days.
See ebird for full list:
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S53988302
Later in the day we followed up on a report of a PILEATED WOODPECKER pair
seen earlier in the day at Carnahan County Park along the trail on the
north end of Cullaby Lake. We heard at least one bird across Cullaby Lake
from the park boat ramp several times, but never saw the birds, though we
did walk the trail around the north end of the lake from there.
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S53993274
David
David C. Bailey
Seaside, Oregon
