[obol] Re: What's the only county without a Semipalmated Sandpiper record? Results
- From: "Dennis Vroman" <dpvroman@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <romain@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <llsdirons@xxxxxxx>, "chuck gates" <cgates326@xxxxxxxxx>, "OBOL Oregon Birders Online" <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 4 Dec 2013 08:56:10 -0800
Might add that one shorebird not shown on the list was seen by Tim Shelmerdine
(in case Tim forgot, which he likely hasn't) at Lake Selmac, on flooded
lawn-type habitat was a Black-necked Stilt. I remember this for on that same
day (one mid-April) it was "dumping" rain and I found two Whimbrels along Lower
River Road in a field. Those are the only sightings of these two species in the
county I'm aware of.
Dennis
----- Original Message -----
From: Romain Cooper
To: llsdirons@xxxxxxx ; chuck gates ; OBOL Oregon Birders Online
Sent: Wednesday, December 04, 2013 8:42 AM
Subject: [obol] Re: What's the only county without a Semipalmated Sandpiper
record? Results
Chuck,
This isn't the kind of publicity Josephine County needs (just before the CBC
season). Just kidding. I too would have guessed Josephine.
Applegate Reservoir is in Jackson County. Lake Selmac, particularly on its
southwest quadrant, has some nice mudflats. The mudflats are often exposed
during late summer and fall migration periods. I'm surprised at how few
shorebirds take advantage. I've observed a smattering of common species plus
my only Josephine County observation of a dunlin.
In the Illinois Valley, the Cave Junction water treatment ponds were
semi-reliable in season for such species as western, least, pectoral sandpiper;
greater yellowlegs, long-billed dowitcher and had solitary sandpiper come thru
most spring migrations. The habitat is now gone and the only shorebirds I've
seen there in recent years are killdeer and spotted sandpiper.
My list of Josephine County Shorebirds (all seen in the Illinois Valley but
with several species also seen in the Grants Pass area) with an asterisk for
those seen only at the Cave Jct "oxidation ponds":
Killdeer
Semipalmated Plover *
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Solitary Sandpiper *
Spotted Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Dunlin
Pectoral Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher *
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Snipe
Wilson's Phalarope *
Red-necked Phalarope *
Red Phalarope *
I wouldn't hold my breath for a Jo County semipalmated sandpiper sighting.
Besides the lack of habitat, we seem to be off the migration route. And there
are few birders and very few experienced ones. The fact that Russ Namitz is
birding the county as of late does increase the chance.
cheers, Romain
At 11:27 PM 12/3/2013, David Irons wrote:
Greetings All,
If you've not birded much in Josephine County, you might have scratched
your head at my suggestion that it was the only Oregon county without a record
of Semipalmated Sandpiper, especially since neighboring Jackson County has
produced a sizeable list of shorebirds. Frankly, I would have been stunned if
Josephine hadn't been the answer to Chuck's query. I have to wonder, what is
the total list of shorebirds species for Josephine. It must be pretty skimpy. I
rack my brain trying to think of where I might start looking for shorebirds in
Josephine and I can't even conjure up a place that might reliably yield a
Greater Yellowlegs. Are there records for species like Black-bellied Plover,
Wilson's Phalarope, or Pectoral Sandpiper? Surely there must be a muddy little
puddle or sewage ponds that have produced some of these species, but I haven't
been to such a place in the county.
Chuck mentions Lake Selmac in his post. "Someday Lake Selmac will provide a
Semipalm I'm sure." I'm not so sure Chuck. I have gone to Lake Selmac only
once, but my recollection of it is that of a fairly steep-banked lake with
virtually no muddy margins around the edge. Perhaps there are seasons when
there is some exposed mud for shorebirds, but I don't remember any reports of
shorebirds from this site. The largest body of water in the county is Applegate
Lake, a flood control reservoir on the Applegate River. I've never been there,
but the satellite images make it look similar to other mid-slope flood control
reservoirs (like Lookout Point and Cougar reservoirs in Lane County). These are
steep-banked "bathtubs" that collect virtually no birds.
So Chuck (or perhaps Dennis Vroman), how many species of shorebirds have
been recorded in Josephine County? I'd be surprised if the list approaches 20
species and even that seems like a stretch. I went through a field guide and
came up with only 14 species that seem likely. My personal life list for
Josephine County (113 species) includes just one species of
shorebird...Killdeer.
Dave Irons
Portland, OR
> Subject: [obol] What's the only county without a Semipalmated Sandpiper
record? Results
>
> Here are a few guesses:
> Gilliam
> Morrow
> Grant (2)
> Union
> Josephine (2)
>
> All good guesses but the final answer
> is.....................................Josephine. Congrats to Dave
> Irons and Darrel Faxon for guessing correctly.
> Someday Lake Selmac will provide a Semipalm I'm sure.
>
> --
> Chuck Gates
> High School Teacher (Retired)
> NAMC State Coordinator - East Cascades Audubon Society
> Online Oregon Birding Site Guide - birdingoregon.info
> 541-280-4957
Romain Cooper
10398 Takilma Road
Cave Junction, OR 97523
541-592-2311
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