A month ago I set the date for the Yamhill Valley CBC for Tues., Dec 28.
Last week the weather forecast predicted snow on that day.
On Sunday, Dec 26, McMinnville got 3-5" of snow. I lay awake early Monday
fretting about what to do. A check of the 10 day forecast led me to a
'firm' decision to put the count off until Fri, Dec 31. Harry Fuller wanted
to put it off. Linda Fink was going to scout count week birds on Dec 27 and
stay home Dec 28.
Monday, Dec 27, was clear weather. I went out to check roads. They were
passable. In the white landscape I saw wet spots in the fields that were
green and contained Killdeer and Wilson's Snipe. A change in the date of
the count had its own problems. I had people coming from Bend, Portland,
Corvallis. Some locals might not be able to do Friday. I decided to go for
it. Do the count as scheduled. Get it over with.
Late Monday afternoon I got emails from participants dropping out, others
shifting plans. I called on some "maybe" participants and got some help.
Late in the evening two stalwart team leaders cancelled. I almost sent the
'change the date' message. Then I shifted resources and figured we could
cover it.
Tuesday morning, Dec 28, the weatherman said our chance of snow was minimal.
I emailed those who cancelled to ask if they'd reconsider. Harry said yes.
Two other leaders who live up in the hills said they had a foot of snow in
their driveways and couldn't get out at all. Tim Stuart showed up at my
door at 7 AM and we began to count feeder birds while I handed out packets
to teams that came by the house. We were doing it.
The snow concentrated birds in the backyard. In addition to the faithful
Townsend's Warbler, White-crowned Sparrow, and White-throated Sparrow, we
saw appearances by a LINCONL'S SPARROW, male PURPLE FINCH, and female
BROWN-HJEADED COWBIRD.
We set off on our route. On Masonville Rd we found Wilson's Snipe in green
patches in the field, Hermit and Varied Thrushes at the cemetery. On Muddy
Valley I was able to call up two WRENTITS. North of the Maysara vineyard we
found a LEWIS' WOODPECKER. At the vineyard we found 10 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS,
and further south a Bald Eagle and a Rough-legged Hawk.
At the Sheridan sewage pond a male WHITE-WINGED SCOTER snoozed among all the
ducks and 5 species of gulls. At the Sheridan fishing pond we added D-c
cormorant and Kingfisher. Back on Amity-Bellevue Hwy the reliable Virginia
Rails answered the call. Continuing east we found raptors. On Briedwell Rd
I spotted a BLACK PHOEBE at the small pond with duck decoys. Finally, as
the light faded, we found 20 HORNED LARKS on Sauter Rd.
Back home the reports came in. Linda and Johnny Fink found Mountain Quail
and American Pipits. Others found Great Egrets, Merlin, Prairie Falcon, W.
Meadowlark, California Quail, Red-breasted Sapsucker, G-c Kinglet, Say's
phoebe, Savannah Sparrow.
With one report still outstanding, we are at 99 species, above the average
for the previous 7 years of this count.
And the snipe? We found 168 of 'em, more than the Killdeer.
Paul T. Sullivan
<mailto:paultsullivan@xxxxxxxxxxxx> paultsullivan@xxxxxxxxxxxx
971-237-4864 cell
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