Very informative email. Thank you Matt. Paul Meyer
Sent from my iPhone
On Aug 12, 2015, at 4:15 PM, Matthew G Hunter <matthewghunter@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Greetings Birders,
Following are announcements of field trips, birders nights, and the
Roseburg-Sutherlin CBC for the remainder of 2015 in Douglas County. I hope
you will join us for some of these activites. Announcements for all these
activities and more will be on the Umpqua Valley Audubon website,
www.umpquaaudubon.org. Kudos to all the different folks who are helping out
with activities and field trips.
Best Birding,
Matt Hunter
Melrose, OR
SCHEDULE (details follow):
PLAT I CANOE RIDES FOR SHOREBIRDS!, SATURDAY, AUGUST 15
BIRDERS NIGHT, THURSDAY, AUGUST 20
ELK ISLAND, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
COASTAL DOUGLAS COUNTY, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
COOS/DOUGLAS COUNTY PELAGIC TRIP--10 hrs, SATURDAY, SEP 26
SUTHERLIN SITES, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3
HAPPY VALLEY BOAT RAMP, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
BIRDERS NIGHT, THURSDAY, OCT 15
DIAMOND LAKE BOAT TRIP, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17
FORD'S POND, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23
TROPICAL KINGBIRD SEARCH, SATURDAY OCTOBER 31
NOVEMBER field trip (tba)
BIRDERS NIGHT--CBC REFRESHER, THURSDAY, DEC 17
ROSEBURG-SUTHERLIN CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT, SATURDAY, DEC 19
PLAT I CANOE RIDES FOR SHOREBIRDS!, SATURDAY, AUGUST 15
Want to see some shorebirds close-up? This is a great time to see shorebirds
at Plat I Reservoir but most are too far away to identify from accessible
land. I will be giving rides (one at a time) in my canoe to get close looks
at Plat I shorebirds. Likely species include Greater (and possibly Lesser)
Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitcher, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, and
Semipalmated Plover. Other birds likely to be around include Purple Martins,
other swallows, egrets, herons, and perhaps an eagle or falcon. Perhaps a
Virginia Rail will show itself! Time slots for 1-hour rides are 06:30, 07:30
(taken), 08:30, 09:30, and 10:30. Bring your lifejacket and binocs. I'll have
extra lifejackets in case you do not have one (you don't have to wear one,
but it must be in the canoe). I can only take one person per hour! Sign up
now for canoe rides to see shorebirds by calling or emailing Matt Hunter at
541-670-1984 or matthewghunter@xxxxxxxxx. To get your ride, meet at the
gravel side road just south of the west end of the dam, between Plat I Road
and the reservoir (not at the boat ramp, unless water is too low and pushes
us to the boat ramp). If you have a canoe or kayak that will take another
person and you would like to join me in giving rides, let me know! Thank-you!
BIRDERS NIGHT, THURSDAY, AUGUST 20
Mercy Community Education Bldg. Room #3 (2nd Floor),
2459 NW Stewart Parkway, next to the Parkway Mobility & Medical Supply
at the SW corner of NW Stewart Parkway and Renann St. (between Del Taco and
McDonalds).
6:30 pm unstructured social time (or earlier if you want to help set up)
7:00 pm open sharing time (stories, sightings, photos, video, artifacts,
journals, art, quizzes, questions)
7:30-8:30 pm Matt Hunter will share with us the complete species list at his
place in the form of an eBird bar chart that shows when each bird had been
observed/heard on a weekly basis throughout the year. Together we will tease
out the reasons he has recorded certain species and not others--and discuss
others' birds and habitat/location for comparison--to learn something about
bird habitat and distribution and timing in the Umpqua Basin. AND, he will
show you how you can make a bar chart for your own place with eBird. Some
photos of birds at his property will accompany the discussion.
8:30 pm unstructured social time
9:00 pm close up
No refreshments will be provided, but if you want something to eat or drink,
bring it for yourself and/or to share if you like. No red, carpet-staining
liquids.
We will also continue our bird book drawings, free Oregon Birds magazines,
and loaner beginner spotting scope. Questions? Call Matt Hunter 541-670-1984.
Hope to see you there!
ELK ISLAND, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
This privately owned island and river bottom habitat is a gem for local
birdwatchers. We are continuing to visit this site to see what shows up at
different times of year. Early September is peak migration for many species
and we expect a variety of species to be found, including some waterbirds and
landbirds. Green Herons, Spotted Sandpiper, and Belted Kingfisher are
expected. Migrant Yellow Warblers and Swainson's Thrushes are possible. We
also may catch early returning "winter" species such as Fox and
Golden-crowned Sparrows. What else will we find? To carpool to the area (just
to reduce the number of cars under the bridge), meet at the Roseburg BLM
visitor parking area by 0745. Otherwise, meet under the Oak Street Bridge,
west side of the river at 0800. To access the area, drive east from I-5 on
Harvard Blvd, and just after Travelodge and before the bridge, turn right
down a small road that goes down under the bridge. We will walk around the
area for 2-3 hours. Sturdy shoes are recommended. Questions? Call or email
Matt Hunter, 541-670-1984 or matthewghunter@xxxxxxxxx.
COASTAL DOUGLAS COUNTY, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
We will meet for carpooling at 0630 at the public parking area on the east
side of Fowler St., just east of the Douglas County Library (contact me if
you want to meet in Sutherlin). At the coast potential stops include the
South Jetty, Salmon Harbor, the Umpqua Lighthouse, points in Reedsport, the
Dean Creek Elk Viewing area, and the O.H. Hinsdale Rhododendron Garden. We
will encounter a wide variety of birds, including loons, grebes, cormorants,
shorebirds, gulls, terns, ducks, sparrows, warblers, and possibly some
auklets and guillemots. This is a great time to be at the coast. Questions,
call or email Matt Hunter, 541-670-1984, matthewghunter@xxxxxxxxx
COOS/DOUGLAS COUNTY PELAGIC TRIP--10 hrs, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
This will be a rare excursion to waters off Douglas County. See photos from
our 2013 trip here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/matthewghunter/sets/72157635555116764. On that
trip we encountered fishing vessels accompanied by thousands of seabirds,
which included Oregon's second record of Great Shearwater, multiple Laysan
Albatross and South Polar Skua, all three jaegers, Flesh-footed Shearwater,
and more. That trip was phenomenal, and while I can't expect a repeat, we do
expect a good diversity of seabirds on this trip (see below). Several
experienced seabirders will be on board and can help you learn to identify
birds at sea.
Birds: This is the latter part of peak migration and we should encounter most
regularly occurring seabirds. Expected are Black-footed Albatross, Sooty,
Pink-footed, and Buller's Shearwaters, Northern Fulmar, Parasitic and
Pomarine Jaegers, Sabine's Gull, Red-necked Phalarope, Cassin's and
Rhinoceros Auklets, and Marbled Murrelet. Because this will be late
September, South Polar Skua is likely, and we have a good chance at the rare
Flesh-footed Shearwater, and perhaps an early Short-tailed Shearwater. Also
possible are Laysan Albatross, Arctic Tern, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel,
Long-tailed Jaeger, Red Phalarope, and a few others. Brief sightings of
whales, sharks, and mola mola (ocean sunfish) are expected as well.
Plans: We will depart from Charleston, near Coos Bay, aboard the Betty Kay
(nice 50-ft boat) at 0700 (board at 0630). From Charleston we will travel
north near shore to off the mouth of the Umpqua River (2-3 hrs), then head
west to deeper water to look for albatross and other offshore species,
spending about 5 hours in Douglas County waters, then head SSE back to
Charleston (2-3 hrs). Total about 10 hrs.
Cost: $120 per person; $100 for the first 10 to sign up (email me). Sign-up
is on a first-paid first-reserved basis. I will confirm your reservation by
email. Send your check to Matt Hunter, 1330 Cleveland Hill Rd, Roseburg, OR
97471. Please include the name, address, phone and email of each person you
are paying for. Thanks!
Cancellations by September 10th are refundable. Cancellations on or after
September 11th are not refundable. If the trip does not go because of ocean
conditions or inadequate sign-up, all funds will be refunded.
Trip preparation: Conditions on the ocean can vary. Be prepared with rain
gear and layers for conditions from very cold to warm. Even when it is
completely sunny, wind can lift up ocean spray and get us wet when the boat
is moving, so be prepared with rain gear tops and bottoms and boots. Bring
adequate food and water for the 10-hour trip. If you are concerned about
possible motion sickness, consult your physician.
Meeting Place/Time: Betty Kay Charters, Albacore Dr, Charleston, OR 97420.
1-800-752-6303. See in Google Maps here: http://tinyurl.com/o2hsrkr. From
Hwy 101 follow signs to Charleston (e.g. just south of the Mill Casino, go
west on Newmark St, which turns into Cape Arago Highway and leads to
Charleston). Once in Charleston, take the first right turn after crossing
over the small arm of the bay. Please be there by 0630. We will depart at
0700.
For questions, contact Matt Hunter, matthewghunter@xxxxxxxxx, 541-670-1984.
SUTHERLIN SITES, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3
We will visit Ford's Pond, Plat I Reservoir, and Cooper Creek Reservoir.
In early October we expect a few shorebirds to remain at Ford's Pond and Plat
I Reservoir, and migrant waterbirds and landbirds at all sites. Meet along
Church Road at Ford's Pond at 08:00. We will spend an hour or two at Ford's
Pond, then go to Cooper Creek Reservoir for an hour or so, and then Plat I
Reservoir for an hour or so. Questions? Call or email Jimmy Billstine,
503-812-5336, billstinj@xxxxxxxxx.
HAPPY VALLEY BOAT RAMP, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
The parking area at this boat ramp is a great place to view the South Umpqua
River and adjacent riparian shrubs and woods. In early to mid-October likely
birds include Common Merganser, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Green Heron,
Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Cedar Waxwing, Golden-crowned Sparrow,
and others. This is also a good location to look for the uncommon
Black-crowned Night-Heron in late summer and fall. Meet at the Roseburg BLM
visitor parking for carpooling at 0845, or at the Happy Valley Boat Ramp at
0900. To get to the boat ramp from I-5 Southbound, take Exit 120 and go south
on Hwy 99 to the first lighted intersection. Turn west (right) on Happy
Valley Rd., go 1.4 mi and turn right onto Amber Ln, then left onto Poteet Ave
to boat ramp. From I-5 northbound, take Exit 119 and toward Winston on Hwy
42, then turn right either onto Hwy 99 (about 3/4 mi) or Carnes Rd (1.5 mi),
and go about a mile to then turn left onto Happy Valley Rd, and then follow
previous directions. Questions? Contact Mikeal Jones at 541-673-1859 or
mikealjones@xxxxxxxxxxx.
BIRDERS NIGHT, THURSDAY, OCT 15
More info to be announced later.
DIAMOND LAKE BOAT TRIP, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17
This will be an all-day cruise around the lake, stopping at concentrations of
waterfowl as well as several terrestrial locations for restroom stops and
land and marsh birding. This date was chosen for the typical influx of large
numbers of waterfowl, and before it gets too awfully cold. A complete list of
birds and notes from our Nov 2, 2014, trip is at
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20432121. Some photos from that
trip are at
https://www.flickr.com/photos/matthewghunter/sets/72157649122695315. In
addition to the water birds, Diamond Lake has species such as Mountain
Chickadee and Clark's Nutcracker that we don't often see at lower elevations.
Cost will be $20 to $50/person for the boat trip (depending on how many
people sign up). Bring lunch, water, and appropriate clothing. We will depart
Diamond Lake Marina at 0800 Saturday morning on one of their 9- or 14-
passenger "patio boats," and arrive back there between 3 and 4 pm, depending
on weather, birds, and the decisions of participants. Once we have a list of
participants, we will consider carpooling. If there are enough people, we
will do both Saturday and Sunday boat trips. Preregistration required: call
or email Matt Hunter at 541-670-1984, matthewghunter@xxxxxxxxx, with your
name, phone number, email, preferred and optional dates you can attend (Oct
17/18), and any questions.
FORD'S POND, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23
By late October a fair diversity of waterfowl will have returned to Ford's
Pond, and there is a chance of an early Swamp Sparrow. We will spend a fair
amount of time on the east side of the pond and those who wish may join me
for the 1.7 mile loop around. Sturdy shoes are recommended (waterproof boots
if it has been a wet October). Meet along Church Rd. at 08:00. Questions?
Call or email Matt Hunter, 541-670-1984 or matthewghunter@xxxxxxxxx.
TROPICAL KINGBIRD SEARCH, SATURDAY OCTOBER 31
Have you ever wanted to participate in a wild and crazy birding effort? Well
this is your chance to make history! The primary goal for this effort is to
locate a Tropical Kingbird in Douglas County. There are just a few records,
but not many birders spend time in coastal Douglas County. Even though our
coastline is small compared to other coastal counties, it is impossible for
one person to cover it in a day. So, this will be a coordinated search and
find effort! We will have "teams" (1 or 2 people) with assigned areas to
search for one or more Tropical Kingbirds. When a team finds a kingbird, the
other teams will be called with a location and directions to the bird and the
finding team. Do you think it will work? Come find out! We will meet at the
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area /Champion Park parking lot, which is
straight across Hwy101 as you enter Reedsport via Hwy38, at 0800. Please let
Matt Hunter know if you plan to participate, at 541-670-1984, or
matthewghunter@xxxxxxxxx.
NOVEMBER field trip (tba)
BIRDERS NIGHT--CBC REFRESHER, THURSDAY, DEC 17
More info to be announced later.
ROSEBURG-SUTHERLIN CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT, SATURDAY, DEC 19
Contact Matt Hunter, 541-670-1984, matthewghunter@xxxxxxxxx
