I agree Jeff, the Columbia River certainly offers up an infinitely better
mid-winter birding experience than it did back in the 1970s (and earlier in
your case). I was under the impression that quagga mussels had gotten into the
lower Columbia, but according to the article linked below invasive quagga and
zebra mussels have yet to reach the Columbia Basin, the only major river system
in the U.S. that is free of them.
https://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2018/02/post_264.html
I don't know anything about the asian clams that Wayne mentions. They may be
every bit as problematic ultimately, but they don't seem to the poster children
for "bad bivalves" like the two aforementioned species, which are a real
nightmare elsewhere. I will have to read up about asian clams. Scoters, scaup
and goldeneyes are all doing well in the Columbia River these days. Whatever
they are eating, it seems to be plentiful.
Dave Irons
Beaverton, OR
________________________________
From: Wayne Hoffman <whoffman@xxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, December 3, 2018 4:08 AM
To: Jeff Gilligan; David Irons
Cc: obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [obol] Re: White-winged and Surf Scoters - Columbia County
Asian clam - Corbicula fluminea
Wayne
On 12/2/2018 10:58:45 PM, Jeff Gilligan <jeffgilligan10@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Dave and all
Its been speculated before, but the Columbia River seems be much much better
for diving ducks that eat mollusks than in the old days. I recall when it was
difficult to see any on the main river on the Portland and Sauvie’s Island
CBCs. Either the native mullosks have increased, or there is a non-native
species that has become established.
Jeff Gilligan
On Dec 2, 2018, at 7:53 PM, David Irons
<llsdirons@xxxxxxx<mailto:llsdirons@xxxxxxx>> wrote:
Jeff et al.,
There are crazy numbers of Common Goldeneyes along that section of the Columbia
right now. Last weekend (Friday after Thanksgiving) Shawneen and I saw a group
of about 30 on the Oregon side by the entrance to the little lagoon just before
you get to Rentenaar Rd. Then on that Sunday we birded the Washington side up
around Woodland Bottoms and counted nearly 90 near Deer Island. We only
scrounged up one female Surf Scoter and could not tease a Tufted Duck out of
several hundred scaup (mostly Lessers). We continued north through Kalama and
Longview and back over to the Oregon. At Prescott County Park we had another 20
or so goldeneyes. I love birding along the Columbia River this time of year
(both up and downstream from Portland).
Dave Irons
Beaverton, OR
________________________________
From: obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> on behalf of Jeff
Gilligan <jeffgilligan10@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:jeffgilligan10@xxxxxxxxx>>
Sent: Monday, December 3, 2018 2:24 AM
To: OBOL Listserve
Subject: [obol] White-winged and Surf Scoters - Columbia County
Steve Rogers and I saw an adult male White-winged Scoter and a female Surf
Scoter, with about 15 Common Goldeneyes on the Columbia River, where the
pavement on Reeder Road along the Columbia River ends and gravel begins.
Jeff Gilligan
POST: Send your post to obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
JOIN OR QUIT: //www.freelists.org/list/obol
OBOL archives:
www.freelists.org/archive/obol<//www.freelists.org/archive/obol>
Contact moderator:
obol-moderators@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:obol-moderators@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
